The Gambia News

Gambia 'Carbon Offset' Stoves: First Year Success

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia Experience is pleased to report that the first year of the TICOS Carbon Offset Mayan Turbo Stoves Project has been a success.

In 2008, TICOS (Tourism Industry Carbon Offset Service) signed a 3 year agreement with Resource Efficient Agricultural Production (REAP Canada) to build fuel efficient Mayan Turbo Stoves and to provide these to communities in Senegal and The Gambia as part of a wider programme to introduce and promote sustainable agricultural practices in rural villages.

Through its Carbon Offset programme, The Gambia Experience is the main funding body of TICOS. However, on evaluating achievements after the first twelve months, The Gambia Experience has agreed that TICOS can invite other travel specialists who are members of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) to support this programme through offset contributions from their own customers.

In the Gambia and Senegal cooking is traditionally with wood or charcoal in a closed kitchen. Traditional stoves are both inefficient and rely on either the purchase or collection of firewood. The trade off here is either a cost of up to one fifth of a weekly income to purchase firewood or charcoal, against collection, which can involve a daily trek of up to 12 kilometres to find suitable wood to burn. Both of these solutions are heavy in demand upon the women of the villages.

The new Mayan Turbo stoves have been adapted to burn the plentiful agricultural by-products of rice husk and groundnut shells. As these are freely available, many villages are now becoming “wood free” in their cooking. In addition to the savings in cost and time, health improvements are also being reported and monitored as the Mayan stoves can be used in the open air and are virtually smoke free.

The provision of new cooking stoves, which save fuel, and at the same time achieve climate change benefits, is seen by TICOS as an excellent way to offset the emissions of carbon for those flying to the Gambia.
Dick Sisman, founder of TICOS, made an inspection visit to see the new stoves operation in October 2009 and was delighted to see that not only was the new stoves project hugely popular with rural communities, but that it was achieving even greater savings in both CO2 emissions and cooking costs than originally anticipated.

For more information on The Gambia Experience, which holds 5* AITO Responsible Tourism status, please visit www.gambia.co.uk or call the Reservations Dept on 0845 330 2087. For more information on TICOS, please visit www.ticos.co.uk

Sandele Bay Eco-Retreat Wins Guardian & Observer Travel Award

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Geri and Maurice of Sandele Bay Eco-Retreat in Kartong in Southern Gambia for winning the Guardian & Observer Ethical Travel Award announced this week at the annual awards ceremony.

To find out the full list of winners visit - Guardian & Observer Travel Awards 2009

For more information about the Sandele visit - Sandele Bay Eco-Lodge

Gambia Pre-Christmas Sale

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia Experience, the UK's leading provider of holidays to The Gambia is holding a pre-Christmas sale.

The sale will last for one weekend only - from Friday 16th October until 5pm on Monday 19th October.

View pre-Christmas offers

Every package holiday will be discounted, from luxury hotels through to the excellent value hotel range, and discounts will cover all available airports - from London Gatwick to regional airports including East Midlands, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol.

Gambia vs Portsmouth

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to the Gambia U17s who gave the Pompey academy side a bit of a lesson at a rain soaked Collingwood ground last Wednesday. Although the Baby Scorpions only won 2-0, they dominated the game and adapted well to some less-than-friendly conditions. Here’s hoping the Scorpions go on and win the U17 World Cup! Below is a match report and brief footage is online at http://www.thegambiablog.co.uk/

Match Report
Being played under floodlight the game kicked off at 7pm. The rain greased up the surface of the pitch – which I’m sure the Gambians are not used to! But this didn’t get to the baby scorpions. They knocked the ball round like a professional outfit dominating the game from early on.Portsmouth struggled to handle the pace of the Gambians who with a want to win were first to every ball. Deservedly so Gambia took the lead half way through the first half: after a scuffle in the box the ball was finally tapped in. The Gambian team delighted to see support on the touchline from few of The Gambia Experience Staff who’d braved the rain to watch the match.The remainder of the half was all one way with Gambia going close from a great through ball and shortly after calling the Portsmouth goal keeper into action to make an unbelievable save, pushing the Gambian’s shot over the cross bar. The half ended 1-0. Second half the Gambians came out strong and sneaked an early second. The Gambians scored from a great strike leaving the Portsmouth goalkeeper with no chance. Portsmouth then had a 15 minute spell where they pushed forward creating a few chances, but they never really troubled the young African Keeper. For the last stretch of the game the Gambians showed why they could prove an upset at the U17 World Cup – winning every ball and pinning the Portsmouth side back deep in to their own half. Full credit to Portsmouth though who played a brilliant, typical English game: solidly defensive throughout but lacking the same creativity that The Gambians played with. From the display I saw if I was a betting man a cheeky outside bet on the baby scorpions to win the Under 17 World Cup now doesn’t seem so silly!

The Gambia: Up Close

Alex Spence - Timesonline — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In a brightly painted courtyard at her home on the Atlantic Coast, shaded by citrus and avocado trees, Ida Cham Njie is teaching my girlfriend, Michelle, and I to cook fish yassa, a staple West African dish.

It’s a family effort: Ida’s sisters-in-law clean and gut the cassava fish we bought at a local market a few hours earlier, while her husband, a quietly-spoken engineer, helps prepare the vegetables.
“In our culture it is taboo for men to be near the kitchen,” Ida says. “If my mother-in-law saw this, I’d be in trouble.”

Ida is a tall, striking woman in her mid-40s. She formerly ran one of The Gambia’s top resorts, but struck out on her own in September, opening Yobouy, a catering business and cooking school specialising in traditional cuisine.

One of a growing number of entrepreneurial locals attempting to offer tourists a more intimate, community-based experience, Ida is determined to show that there’s more to her country than golf, game fishing and birdwatching cruises.

The Gambia is one of Africa’s smallest countries, a 350 kilometre strip along the Gambia River that is almost entirely enveloped by Senegal. Its 1.4 million people depend largely on small-scale agriculture for their livelihoods but tourism is also crucial to their fortunes.

The former British colony attracted 146,759 tourists in 2008, of which more than 40 per cent were from the UK.

It may not be as popular as, say, the Caribbean or Thailand as a wintersun destination, but The Gambia does have plenty to recommend it: terrific climate, cheap prices, decent beaches. It’s only a six hour flight from London and in the same time zone; it helps that almost everyone speaks English.

And the addition of several flash new hotels, including the eco-friendly Mandina Lodge, set in a protected 1,000-acre rainforest, and Coco Ocean, a luxury oceanfront hotel that opened last December, has helped to lure a broader range of tourists. Yet for all its apparent appeal, we were sceptical.

After ten days travelling through remote villages in Senegal, we worried that we would find The Gambia excessively touristy, even a bit dull.

Would we be trapped in a dreary resort, surrounded by grey-haired Brits interested only in improving their tans and their golf swings? A French expatriate we met in Senegal, when we told him we were heading to The Gambia, quipped, “How’s your grip?”

We’d heard all the stories about sex tourists and “bumsters”, the local hustlers who prowl the beaches and markets looking for gullible foreigners to prey on. Thefts and attacks against tourists are on the rise, according to the UK’s Foreign Office.

And a series of negative headlines in the British press hadn't improved our perceptions, either. In December, a couple of British missionaries were jailed for apparently criticising The Gambia’s human rights record; more recently, over 1,000 villagers were rounded up and forced to drink toxic potions after they were accused of practicing witchcraft.

In the end, though, we were pleasantly surprised. The Gambia is touristy, sure, but it’s hardly Bali or Phuket. There are no fast-food chains or flashy Western-style stores. There are only six sets of traffic lights and a couple of ATMs in the entire country.

Step outside the landscaped, air conditioned comfort of your hotel and there’s no mistaking you’re in a poor African country: dusty and potholed roads, animals roaming freely, barely roadworthy vehicles belching black smoke.

Michelle and I arrived by land from Senegal to the north. After a delay at the ramshackle border post, we jostled onto an impossibly crowded car ferry for the journey across the river to Banjul, the capital.

We had arranged for a driver to meet us at the other side, but he was nowhere to be seen. Instead, we were quickly surrounded by touts and taxi drivers. A policeman stepped out of the crowd to help us find a ride to our hotel. A grateful taxi driver quietly slipped him 100 dalasis (£2.40) for his trouble.

The hotels cluster along the Atlantic Coast. We stayed at Ngala Lodge, in Bakau, a seafront town that is home to diplomats, businessmen and members of The Gambia’s political elite. Ngala Lodge is a converted colonial mansion on a clifftop road near the British High Commission, with spacious suites and an excellent restaurant. Its real highlight is a lush garden that sweeps down to a private beach.

For the first few days, we were happy just to laze about, swimming and reading, drinking cocktails, watching the sun set. Most of the other guests similarly seemed to have little inclination to leave the hotel.

Feeling a little guilty, we did venture out in the evening to check out some of the restaurants along the coast, which were surprisingly good. The first night, we ate at Avocado, at the Coconut Residence hotel in Kololi.

Admittedly, we had a couple of gripes — the service was comically overattentive and the price was, by local standards, eye-poppingly expensive (£90, including wine, for the two of us) — but the food was generally very good.

The next night we tried The Butcher’s Shop, in Fajara, which we liked even more. It was romantic but unpretentious, friendly, and served an excellent steak. The restaurant was only a few kilometers from our hotel, so we decided to walk back after dinner. Everywhere else we had been required a taxi and it was a warm, pleasant night, so why not? Despite the warnings about attacks on tourists, we did not feel unsafe.

The next morning, we meet Ida.

A day with her begins at a small beachfront market in Tanji, a village about 15 minutes from her family home in Brufut. It's typical of other markets we’ve visited in Senegal and Gambia: full of noise and colour, the air thick with the stench of fish and acrid black smoke from open fires.

Women in loudly-patterned dresses, children in tow, sell barracuda, catfish, snapper, ladyfish and various other types of seafood I can’t identify. They're formidable negotiators, so we leave Ida to take care of the haggling. Then it's on to the vegetable stalls where we stuff our baskets with green tomatoes, aubergines, onions, okra and sorrel leaves. Back at Ida’s house, we soon transformed her courtyard into an open-air kitchen.

Home cooking in Gambia is a slow, labour-intensive exercise but also a marvellously social one. Their cuisine is relatively uncomplicated, consisting predominantly of fish or chicken stews — this being a Muslim country, pork is seldom eaten — served with rice.

Ida shows us how to prepare the fish, then they’re wrapped in foil and left to grill slowly over a small charcoal stove. The sauce, a mix of onions, lemon juice and mustard, simmers in another huge pot, while Michelle purees the sorrel leaves using a giant wooden mortar and pestle.

The yassa takes several hours to cook; by the time Ida declares it ready the courtyard is filled with stomach-teasing aromas.

We sit down with the family on the tiled ground as the yassa is laid out on a huge plate in front of us. Everyone digs in with their hands, as is customary. It’s harder to eat this way than it first seems and I make a proper mess of it; Ida, finding it hilarious, eventually takes pity and hands me a spoon. It tastes good — simple, but filling and flavoursome.

After lunch, there’s a surprise. Ida has invited her friend Sheikh Omar Sohna, a Gambian percussionist, to join us for lunch and he lets us have a go at playing his djembe drums. Sheikh Omar, who goes by the stage name “Sheikh Blondie”, recently returned to The Gambia after eight years living in the UK, largely because he missed the lifestyle and the weather. Now he teaches drumming to schoolkids and tourists. He’s a natural entertainer and his enthusiasm for Gambian music is infectious.

He tells us that although Gambian musicians are overshadowed by their Senegalese neighbours — many of whom, including Youssou N’Dour and Baaba Maal, have become internationally famous — they are every bit as skilled and imaginative. “Every Gambian is born with a drum,” he says.
That may be true, but can he teach a rhythmically-challenged white guy to play? Slowly, patiently, Sheikh Omar guides Michelle and I through the basics. Then he counts off a simple beat: "tone, tone, bass . . . Tone, tone, bass. . ."

We do our best to follow but we're too tentative. "It’s dead animal skin," he chides. "You can’t hurt it."
Eventually, we find a groove. Sheikh Omar begins singing in Wolof. Ida and the family clap and dance along. The music is irresistible, as is their openness, their hospitality. Hopefully, for their sake and for The Gambia's, a new generation of British tourists will think so, too.

Need to Know
Alex Spence travelled as a guest of The Gambia Experience, staying at Ngala Lodge in Bakau for 4 nights. This winter The Gambia Experience is offering seven-night packages at Ngala Lodge from £854pp, based on B&B for two and including flights from Gatwick, transfers and taxes.

For those on more of a budget, The Gambia Experience offers seven nights at the four-star Kombo Beach hotel from £546 pp, based on B&B for two sharing a non-air conditioned room, including flights from Gatwick, transfers and taxes.

What to do
The Gambia Experience offers several bookable full or part-day excursions, including a boat journey to the historic slave trading station that inspired Alex Haley’s “Roots” for £48.50 per person and a four-wheel-drive tour of beaches and fishing villages for £35pp.
For those interested in wildlife up close, there are trips across the border to a nature reserve in Senegal for £58 per person and a day in the Makasutu eco-forest for £44 per person.

Visas & jabs
British passport-holders do not require visas for tourist entry to The Gambia. Vaccinations not required for entry from the EU, but jabs for typhoid and hepatitis A are recommended. Malaria is a problem, so anti-malarial medication is avisable.

Gamble on The Gambia

Laura Powell - The Daily Mail — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Somewhere between stumbling across a 5ft monitor lizard and bumping into a family of baboons cracking groundnuts between their teeth, I realised I was lost. Hopelessly disorientated. And deep in the tangle of the West African bush.

This was Makasutu, a forest in The Gambia dense with strangler and baobab trees, which local Mandinga tribesmen believe is haunted with devils, dragons and mystical creatures called Djinns. Quite the stuff of horror films.

Thank goodness, then, for Mohammed, our nimble guide, who, familiar with this 33 square mile jungle, dived between low branches, over giant ghekkos, and hours later brought us back to civilisation.

So civil, in fact, that my mother and I were side-by-side on spongy mattresses at the Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, while a masseuse slathered us with neroli oil as we watched steel-blue waves foam and crash on the deserted stretch of sand ahead. The only figures on the horizon were a row of fishermen kneeling to pray.

Sounds like a complete contradiction - flitting between unadulterated primitive bush and unadulterated five-star luxury. Well, that's how you know you're in The Gambia.
Where else would you find two beaches, ten minutes apart - one, crammed shoulder-to-shoulder with hundreds of local women haggling for ladyfish, so fresh it's still in the nets; while the other is deserted, studded with palm trees, and the only sign of life is a waiter hurrying down from the Coco Ocean with your pina colada.

The biggest contradiction, though, is The Gambia's proximity to Britain. This pea-sized country, sandwiched beside Senegal, might feel worlds away - but it's only a six-hour flight. And during the coldest months of the British winter, humidity in The Gambia is minimal and sunshine almost constant.

But unlike Egypt and Morocco, which pull in thousands of British tourists, visitors to The Gambia are still only a steady trickle.

Perhaps it's because The Gambia's reputation is tarred: it's been wrongly labelled the 'Benidorm of Africa', and a stop-off shop where middle-aged desperados fly in search of a quick tan and a toy-boy.

But The Gambia really has had a facelift. Top-end hotels in the capital, Banjul, have sprung up, as well as retreats in the bush, like Mandina River Lodge developed by two Britons, James English and Lawrence Williams.

Meanwhile, the dust-track roads are snaked with carcasses of buildings that one day will be even more shops, restaurants and guest houses. Just don't ask 'when'.

Because the moment you touch down in The Gambia, internet access becomes precarious, foreign newspapers are non-existent and forget about asking the time. Even the mosquitos are lethargic.
For Mum and I, it began as a weekend getaway for a shot of winter sun. The blink- and- you'll-miss-it flight was spent popping antimalarials and, in my poor mother's case, diazepam (as she was terrified at the prospect of a flight beyond Europe).

She was more nervous of battling with overfriendly bumsters (the cruel nickname for beggars). Gaggles of them flock to help carry your suitcase at Banjul Airport or try to escort you round the markets should you venture unchaperoned.

She was even more fearful still of seeing the crocodiles that have been known to loll between the mangroves or on the banks of River Gambia in Makasutu.

But something must have changed her. Perhaps it was the locals themselves, who give The Gambia its nickname, the 'Smiling Coast'. Because, four days later, diazepam in hand, as we boarded the Gatwick-bound return flight, Mum chuckled to the security guard: 'We'll definitely be back next year.'

We were intoxicated by the hotel. The flashy Coco Ocean exudes calm the moment you walk in, with its sky-high ceilings propped up with white pillars, monochrome-striped floors dotted with acid-bright suites, all arched backs and curved edges.

The theme there is Morocco; Moorish furniture, stained-glass lanterns, white-washed bungalow suites that rise higher than the palms, and in the spa, hammams to pipe music.

Aside from the crash of the ocean and the lap of the three infinity pools, it's silent. The staff - a ratio of at least nine to one guest - breezed about, urging us to eat more, relax more. 'Go on, have a fourth course.'

When I politely refused - it was only breakfast time, after all - the chirpy waiter, Ousman, recommended I keep it for later in case I was peckish.

Fat chance of hunger. After a threecourse breakfast and before a threecourse dinner, I still needed space for the African cookery course I was scheduled to attend.

In a 4X4, Mum and I bounced along the potholed roads to Brufut, where Ida Cham Njai, our host for the day, cooked up a traditional African feast at her home.

Wearing full African dress, we followed Ida around the fish and fruit market and bartered for bitter tomatoes, garlic, butternut squash, rice and a huge bag of peanuts.

Back at her compound, we crowded around the outdoor stove and spent a sluggish hour picking out each gritty grain from the huge urn of rice. Sometimes, we paused to refresh with a slug of wonjo juice, a sticky, sour cranberry-coloured drink. Three hours later, kneeling around a huge communal platter with Ida, her nephew and sistersinlaw, we tucked in.

With her hands, Mum rolled wet balls of rice then devoured them with the vegetables and hunks of boiled, peanutty beef.

Fuelled with confidence after immersing herself in real Gambian dining, Mum agreed to venture into the biggest market in the country. Albert Market in Banjul is a maze of makeshift stalls topped with rusting, corrugated steel, where vendors vie for attention with tongue clicks.
Rickety wooden shelves are piled with dusty mangoes, carved batiks with googly eyes, Manchester United football shirts; there were onions spread out on brown paper under sun-bleached Coca-Cola umbrellas, multi-coloured underpants, rolls of dyed cotton - and bags of peanuts balanced atop women's heads.

Even Mum relaxed into the jokey bartering and, smiles on faces, we haggled down a wooden chair to a bargain-basement British price that, in The Gambia, was more than fair.

Perhaps it was that newfound knack for bartering that gave my mother the ultimate confidence: stepping into a dugout canoe, to paddle along the River Gambia through Makasutu with a guide armed (against the crocodiles) with nothing but a stumpy oar.

You could hear the baboons chasing and calling each other. One screamed. Then silence again. Nothing but the sound of a single oar slapping against the surface of the river.

Delirious on the thick September humidity, we relaxed. Once again, we felt lost. But this time, happily lost, pleasantly disorientated and embracingly lost.

Travel Facts: Double rooms at the Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, B&B, start at £955 per person for seven nights, based on two people sharing when booked with The Gambia Experience (0845 330 2087, www.gambia.co.uk). Price includes flights, transfers and taxes.

Gambia Bird Watching Tour with Chris Packham

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Chris Packham, celebrity ornithologist, currently co-hosting BBC2's Autumnwatch [starting this eve at 9pm], is set to host another Bird Watching Tour to The Gambia in February 2010. Specialist tour operator, The Gambia Experience - responsible for organizing the trip - is pleased to announce that there are still spaces available, courtesy of their increasing the number of places on the first part of the activities.

The Bird Watching Tour will now (please note that dates have changed) run between 05 - 08 February 2009 and costs £299 per person, which can be added to the cost of a holiday at any hotel within the Kotu region. The tour includes welcome drinks with Chris, a trip to the Abuko Nature Reserve, an evening walk around Kotu stream, as well as a half-day excursion to the Tanji Bird reserve and Tanji village. This section of the tour can now accommodate up to 20 places.

A three-night add-on - commencing 09 February and costing £450pp - can also be booked, whereby 10 guests can enjoy half-board accommodation with Chris at the award-winning Mandina Lodges at Makasutu. Here, the local bush can be meandered on foot, and the River Gambia explored by pirogue whilst taking in the extensive bird life of the area.

Chris has travelled to The Gambia on numerous occasions and says of the country: "It's a haven for birding, it's so full of accessible sites and species and it still retains its charm and allure for me after many visits."

Please note that holidays can be booked at the Mandina Lodges at Makasutu throughout the year, exclusively through The Gambia Experience. The eight lodges are set on a tributary of the River Gambia within a 1000-acre forest, owned and operated by two Englishmen, who work closely with local villagers. The lodges' main appeal is that guests are able to enjoy rural Africa, yet still only be 30 minutes from the airport and 45 minutes from the coast.

Bird watching in The Gambia is not just limited to the Chris Packham tour.
The Gambia, (as well as neighbouring Senegal, offered through sister company The Senegal Experience), offers some of the world's best birding and is an ideal destination for both the novice and expert birdwatcher. To reflect this, The Gambia Experience offers bird watching themed holidays, such as 'Plover' and 'Tanji', as well as day excursions such as 'Birds & Breakfast'. In addition to its own tours, The Gambia Experience also works closely with specialists offering fully escorted bird watching safaris in The Gambia; these include Birdfinders, Ornitholidays and Limosa Holidays.

For more information on bird watching in The Gambia, including the Chris Packham tour, or on the Mandina Lodges at Makasutu, please visit www.gambia.co.uk or call The Gambia Experience Reservations Dept on 0845 330 2087.

World Cup Trophy In The Gambia

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The FIFA World Cup Trophy is due to arrive in The Gambia for the first time on Tuesday (6th October) for three days as part of its worldwide tour ahead of next year’s World Cup Finals in South Africa. The 225 day tour is the longest ever undertaken by the Trophy ahead of a tournament and is aimed at raising awareness and giving fans the chance to see the Trophy up close.

The trophy is travelling a total of 134,017 kilometres visiting more than 80 countries worldwide including every nation in Africa.

The FIFA President Sep Blatter comments on the FIFA website: “Through this event, we are really engaging football fans on a global scale, giving them the unique opportunity to have their picture taken with the most prestigious prize in world football and to embrace the excitement surrounding the FIFA World Cup. I am especially thrilled that the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour takes in all 54 nations in Africa and that this opportunity is thus afforded to all African football fans.”

The Trophy is expected to be displayed to the Gambian public during a ceremony at the Independence Stadium in Bakau on Wednesday 7th October.

Coco Ocean Resort & Spa - 'African Paradise'

Hannah Fox - Healthy magazine — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Read Hannah Fox's review of the Coco Ocean Resort & Spa
‘This feature was published in the Sept/Oct 09 issue of Healthy magazine, available in Holland & Barrett stores.’

Gambia Under 17s To Train In The UK

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia’s Under 17 football team will arrive in the UK tomorrow in preparation for the Under 17s World Cup to be held in Nigeria between 24th October and 15th November. The Baby Scorpians are playing a few English teams including Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Portsmouth during the three-week trip. You can read more about the team and follow their progress in the tournament on the FIFA website www.fifa.com/u17worldcup/teams/team=1889597/index.html

Fancy enjoying a holiday in Africa? I should Coco...

Derek James - Norwich Evening News — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

If you are looking for a luxury holiday in the sun this winter and don't fancy the tedious journey to the Caribbean or Far East, how about checking in at the Coco Ocean, the most stylish hotel on the Smiling Coast. Derek James reports from The Gambia.

In recent years posh hotels, calling themselves resorts with the obligatory spa have been popping up all over the world. The Far East and of course Dubai, the biggest building site in the world, are top of the list.

You could be forgiven for thinking there is a competition between the owners to make them as flashy and outrageous as possible in a desperate bid to get a higher star rating …especially in the Middle East.

Weird and wacky designs reaching into the sky are almost worshipped and are seen as a glorious reason to push up the prices. Many of these hotels, especially those belonging to the big chains, are so “up front” they have lost their appeal and charm.

Once you are booked in you could be anywhere in the world and it often makes you wonder whether or not it is worth visiting in the first place.

But Coco Ocean facing the Atlantic on the west coast of Africa is different, so very different.
There is nothing brash about this hotel. It has real style and an intimacy, which lifts tourism in The Gambia to a new level.

This engaging little country, a former British colony surrounded by big brother Senegal, has been welcoming visitors for many years.

The first tourists came from Scandinavia but then us Brits realised, while we were shivering between November and April, the sun was shining non-stop, well almost, in Gambia.

Less than six hours’ flying time away and with no time difference or language problems and prices cheap when compared with the Caribbean, this was the ideal winter hot-spot.

But this was Africa. You either loved it or hated it. Every time you ventured outside of the hotel, you were embarking on an adventure… the locals made sure of that.

The hotels were cheap and cheerful. This was easy Africa. Then smaller, more intimate and upmarket hotels started to open up expanding the market and trying to tempt visitors all the year round. Any why not? Yes it rains in the summer months but the sun is rarely hidden for very long and while Europe and beaches and resorts are packed, you can walk for mile on The Gambia’s golden sands without seeing a soul.

At the end of last year, the team behind Coconut Residence, one of the best of the small hotels, went one step further and opened up what is without doubt the best hotel in the country… Coco Ocean.

From the outside this stylish low-rise development with its arches and domes and tucked away suites and penthouses is a development like no other.

Step inside and the holiday begins. The atmosphere is as cool as the air conditioning. Some top class hotels can be intimidating but Coco Ocean is very special. The friendly and easygoing staff go out of their way to make sure you have a perfect say.

Nothing is too much trouble.

The rooms offer every facility you need, some come with their own swimming pool. Other villas have large outdoor seating areas. There is also a central tiered swimming pool for all guests and plenty of room for privacy in the large landscaped areas with swaying palms and baobab trees, which attract exotic birds.

Breakfast – the menu has to be seen to be believed – is served in the Courtyard and restaurants are very special. It is certainly worth considering paying the £25 a night supplement for half-board.
The jewel in the Coco Ocean crown is the spa, the first of its kind in the country, housed in a Moorish-style villa offering a complete range of treatments by specialist therapist from around the world. A visit can be as energetic or as relaxing as you wish. Another plus for this hotel is the location. It really does offer the best of both worlds. Although it stands on its own facing the beach at Bijilo, a 20 minute stroll takes you to Kololi and the beating heart of Gambian nightlife at what has become known as the Senegambia Strip.

It’s Las Vegas – African style – with the odd casino dotted among the bars, restaurants, and night clubs and craft markets. Keep your cool, and your sense of humour when entering, and you will have a great time.

If you are visiting The Gambia then you must get out and about and make the effort to explore this country and all it has to offer.

Turn your back on the coastal areas and head inland for a real adventure. There are so many excursions to choose from but a trip up the mighty River Gambia is a must.

A holiday to The Gambia can be life-changing. The chances are some of your travelling companions will be “repeaters”, people who have made good friends in the country, got involved with various charity projects, or even bought property.

Yes, the Coco Ocean is expensive when compared to other hotels in The Gambia but it is excellent value when you look at prices in similar hotels in other parts of the world.

I spoke to a well travelled businessman from Sierra Leone on my visit and asked him if he knew of a better hotel on the west coast of Africa where he had worked for 30 years.

“No,” he said as we sat in the garden surrounded by swaying palms and listening to the Atlantic rollers, “this is a special place and I shall be coming back next month, bringing my wife and children with me.”

Lucky man.

Travel Facts
The Gambia Experience has been the main link between Britain and The Gambia for more than 21 years.You can choose from basic, good value, two-star hotels to exclusive and luxurious resorts such as Coco Ocean.

Prices at Coco Ocean start from £975 per person this winter (December 15 departure) based on seven nights, bed and breakfast in a junior suite. The price includes return Gatwick to Banjul flights, hotel transfers, inflight meals and taxes.

The company currently has an early booking offer of a free spa treatment for bookings made before the end of September. Clients can choose between a one hour Moroccan Hammam or a classic facila or full body massage. The offer is valid for bookings for departures between January 5 and February 9 on Tuesdays from Gatwick.
Visit www.gambia.co.uk or for reservations telephone 0845 330 2087.

Reasons to visit The Gambia:
> Wall to wall winter sun - temperatures average more than 30C every month.
> Same time zone, no jet lag.
> An African adventure with great river, bush and beach excursions.
> Some of hte best birdlife and fishing anywhere in the world.
> Outside the Euro zone - good value.
> A chance to have a holiday which could change your life.

Let the coach take the strain.
National Express operates up to seven coaches a day from Norwich (UEA and Surrey Street) to Gatwick and back, day and night. They also pick up at Thickthorn park and ride, Wymondham, Attleborough, Thetford and Mildenhall. Coaches also stop at Stansted and Heathrow.
For details and prices visit www.nationalexpress.com or telephone 08717 818181.

Extra Luggage Allowance for Flight Only - FREE

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Customers looking for a flight to The Gambia can get an additional five kilograms luggage allowance for free when booking with The Gambia Experience. Anyone booking a flight only ticket to Banjul departing from Gatwick, Bristol or East Midlands this winter will now receive 25kgs instead of the standard 20kgs.

Throughout winter The Gambia Experience offers twice weekly flights from Gatwick and Manchester as well as weekly services from Birmingham, East Midlands and Bristol.

The company also sells upgraded Premium Class flights from Gatwick and flexible duration tickets valid for up to six months, both of which receive a luggage allowance of 30 kilograms.

Walking The Gambia for charity

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia Experience is pleased to announce that its relationship with the Eden Project in Cornwall is to be further strengthened by a latest charitable endeavour, which sees Jason Florio and Helen Jones circumnavigate The Gambia on foot this November, in order to raise awareness and funds for the Eden Project’s Gardens for Life programme.

British-born Jason Florio, who splits his time between London and New York, is a professional photographer whose passion for The Gambia has led to exhibitions, as well as the production of an award-winning book, Makasutu – Mecca in the Forest. His partner, Helen Jones – also his producer and assistant – is, likewise, ardent about The Gambia, returning annually to this small West African country, since her inaugural stay there 14 years ago.

The couple’s odyssey will begin in November with visits to the five Gambian schools near the western coast, which are participating in the Eden Project’s Gardens for Life scheme. Jason and Helen - accompanied by two Gambian guides and two donkeys - will then go onto complete an arduous 700-mile circumnavigation of The Gambia. The start point is Makasutu Culture Forest and they expect to return there eight weeks later, in time to celebrate New Year’s Eve. [The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in Africa, approximately half the size of Wales].

The Gambia is the latest country to join Gardens for Life, the Eden initiative, which links 20,000 pupils in schools across the UK, Africa, India and the USA, encouraging them to create gardens, grow food and share stories with others across the world. Monies donated to Gardens for Life fund a whole host of resources, such as good quality seeds, tools, and vital equipment, such as hoses to connect school gardens to water pumps.

Rob Lowe, coordinator of Gardens for Life at the Eden Project says:
“Our work supports the most fundamental kind of food security by establishing community gardens where children are taught how simple it can be to grow healthy food. Often, as countries and communities aspire to develop, so the skills used in tending gardens and looking after land are being forgotten. The aim of Gardens for Life is to remedy this.”

With a proposed route through rural villages, following the course of the River Gambia, Jason and Helen are also keen to continue their documentation of authentic Gambia. A new book, as well as an interactive website, are in the pipeline. Jason comments:
“These remote villages often hold a wealth of history and folklore, relayed through storytelling and traditional celebrations, which are rarely documented through visual or written means. This rich cultural history is at risk of being lost. We aim to help preserve some of it by documenting it as we go.”

The collaboration between The Gambia Experience and the Eden Project is rooted in Makasutu – a 1000-acre cultural forest situated about 45 minutes from the coastal resorts - in The Gambia. The Gambia Experience exclusively features the award-winning Mandina Lodges at Makasutu within its hotel portfolio, enabling guests to holiday there throughout the year.
It was Lawrence Williams and James English, the founders of Makasutu, whose ongoing Ballabu Conservation Project, provided the initiative for Gardens for Life to be launched in The Gambia.

The Gambia Experience is accredited with 5-star AITO Responsible Tourism status. Managing director, Chris Rowles comments:
“We are delighted to be supporting Jason and Helen on this unique adventure to help them achieve the worthy objectives of their journey. Working, once again, so closely with the Eden Project injects such energy and inspiration to our responsible tourism work.”

To contact The Gambia Experience please call 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk

For up-to-date information on Jason & Helen's adventure, please visit:
http://ashortwalkinthegambianbush.wordpress.com/

To read the Gambia Blog interview with Jason and Helen about their Gambian odyssey:
http://www.thegambiablog.co.uk/2009/09/a-short-walk-in-the-gambian-bush/

For more information on the Eden Project and Gardens for Life, including how to donate, please visit:
http://www.edenproject.com/our-work/people/gardens-for-life/index.php

Winter 09/10 bookings strong & Early Booking Offers announced

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia Experience reports that its deluxe properties continue to sell strongly, despite current economic conditions. This winter, bookings for the specialist’s Luxury Collection hotels are up 12% year on year. As a destination, The Gambia has evolved and is now successful in attracting the luxury sector. This booking trend is also supported by The Gambia Experience announcing a 24% increase in winter reservations for its Premium Class London Gatwick – Banjul flight service.

In addition to its Luxury Collection, much of which is exclusive to its programme, The Gambia Experience also offers a wide range of hotels from 2-grade upwards. The tour operator reports that, at the time of writing, overall sales figures for the forthcoming winter season have also increased year on year. The specialist is confident of a prosperous season ahead, increasing Autumn Half Term capacity with additional flights on 23 and 30 October.

Highlights of The Gambia Experience brochure 2009/2010 include the new Coco Ocean Resort & Spa hotel. Sister property to the already acclaimed Coconut Residence, Coco Ocean Resort & Spa occupies a prime elevated position on a secluded beach, and is the pinnacle of The Gambia Experience Luxury Collection. The adult-only spa facility is an integral part of the Coco Ocean Resort and is the first of its kind in The Gambia. Further highlights include increased options of twin-centre holidays with Senegal, as well as new Gambia Home Cookery courses and Drumming Workshops.

Chris Packham, celebrity ornithologist last seen on BBC2’s Springwatch, is set to host another Bird Watching Tour to The Gambia in February 2010, and there are still spaces available. There are options to choose from three, four or seven night itineraries with the expert - the three-night including half board accommodation at the award-winning Mandina Lodges at Makasutu. Here, a maximum of eight people will have the chance to explore the local bush on foot with Chris, as well as enjoy trips on the Gambia River in a pirogue. For more information, please visit www.gambia.co.uk/chrispackham

The Gambia Experience is promoting a selection of Early Booking Offers for travel this winter, which are valid if booked by 30 September 09. These include the tour operator, throughout September, price matching all winter 09/10 Gambia holidays, departing from Gatwick (excluding peak dates). Additional offers include free half board upgrades at selected hotels, complimentary spa treatments at the Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, and four night add-on stays for the price of three, when combined with another hotel, at either the boutique Ngala Lodge or Mandina Lodges at Makasutu (selected departure dates & conditions apply). For more information, please call The Gambia Experience, now accredited with AITO 5* Responsible Tourism status, on 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk

Coco Ocean: Best in the West

Derek James - Eastern Daily Press Saturday Magazine — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

You have to search for the sign on Gambia's version of the M25 it is so discreet - just a little one which points you in the direction of Coco Ocean. Is this the best hotel on the west coast of Africa? Derek James checks in to find out.
In recent years posh hotels, calling themselves resorts with the obligatory spa have been popping up all over the world. The Far East and of course Dubai, the biggest building site in the world, are top of the list.
You could be forgiven for thinking there is a competition between the owners to make them as flashy and outrageous as possible in a desperate bid to get a higher star rating …especially in the Middle East.
Weird and wacky designs reaching into the sky are almost worshipped and are seen as a glorious reason to push up the prices. Many of these hotels, especially those belonging to the big chains, are so “up front” they have lost their appeal and charm.
Once you are booked in you could be anywhere in the world and it often makes you wonder whether or not it is worth visiting in the first place.
But Coco Ocean facing the Atlantic on the west coast of Africa is different, so very different.
There is nothing brash about this hotel. It has real style and an intimacy, which lifts tourism in The Gambia to a new level.
This engaging little country, a former British colony surrounded by big brother Senegal, has been welcoming visitors for many years.
The first tourists came from Scandinavia but then us Brits realised, while we were shivering between November and April, the sun was shining non-stop, well almost, in Gambia.
Less than six hours’ flying time away and with no time difference or language problems and prices cheap when compared with the Caribbean, this was the ideal winter hot-spot.
But this was Africa. You either loved it or hated it. Every time you ventured outside of the hotel, you were embarking on an adventure… the locals made sure of that.
The hotels were cheap and cheerful. This was easy Africa. Then smaller, more intimate and upmarket hotels started to open up expanding the market and trying to tempt visitors all the year round. Any why not? Yes it rains in the summer months but the sun is rarely hidden for very long and while Europe and beaches and resorts are packed, you can walk for mile on The Gambia’s golden sands without seeing a soul.
At the end of last year, the team behind Coconut Residence, one of the best of the small hotels, went one step further and opened up what is without doubt the best hotel in the country… Coco Ocean.
From the outside this stylish low-rise development with its arches and domes and tucked away suites and penthouses is a development like no other.
Step inside and the holiday begins. The atmosphere is as cool as the air conditioning. Some top class hotels can be intimidating but Coco Ocean is very special. The friendly and easygoing staff go out of their way to make sure you have a perfect say.
Nothing is too much trouble.
The rooms offer every facility you need, some come with their own swimming pool. Other villas have large outdoor seating areas. There is also a central tiered swimming pool for all guests and plenty of room for privacy in the large landscaped areas with swaying palms and baobab trees, which attract exotic birds.
Breakfast – the menu has to be seen to be believed – is served in the Courtyard and restaurants are very special. It is certainly worth considering paying the £25 a night supplement for half-board.
The jewel in the Coco Ocean crown is the spa, the first of its kind in the country, housed in a Moorish-style villa offering a complete range of treatments by specialist therapist from around the world. A visit can be as energetic or as relaxing as you wish. Another plus for this hotel is the location. It really does offer the best of both worlds. Although it stands on its own facing the beach at Bijilo, a 20 minute stroll takes you to Kololi and the beating heart of Gambian nightlife at what has become known as the Senegambia Strip.
It’s Las Vegas – African style – with the odd casino dotted among the bars, restaurants, and night clubs and craft markets. Keep your cool, and your sense of humour when entering, and you will have a great time.
If you are visiting The Gambia then you must get out and about and make the effort to explore this country and all it has to offer.
Turn your back on the coastal areas and head inland for a real adventure. There are so many excursions to choose from but a trip up the mighty River Gambia is a must.
A holiday to The Gambia can be life-changing. The chances are some of your travelling companions will be “repeaters”, people who have made good friends in the country, got involved with various charity projects, or even bought property.
Yes, the Coco Ocean is expensive when compared to other hotels in The Gambia but it is excellent value when you look at prices in similar hotels in other parts of the world.
I spoke to a well travelled businessman from Sierra Leone on my visit and asked him if he knew of a better hotel on the west coast of Africa where he had worked for 30 years.
“No,” he said as we sat in the garden surrounded by swaying palms and listening to the Atlantic rollers, “this is a special place and I shall be coming back next month, bringing my wife and children with me.”
Lucky man.

Need to know
Tour company and flight operator The Gambia Experience has been the main link between Britain and The Gambia for more than 21 years.You can choose from basic, good value, two-star hotels to exclusive and luxurious resorts such as Coco Ocean.

Prices at Coco Ocean start from £975 per person this winter (December 15 departure) based on seven nights, bed and breakfast in a junior suite. The price includes return Gatwick to Banjul flights, hotel transfers, inflight meals and taxes.

The company currently has an early booking offer of a free spa treatment for bookings made before the end of September. The offer is valid for bookings for departures between January 5 and February 9 on Tuesdays from Gatwick.
Visit www.gambia.co.uk or for reservations telephone 0845 330 2087.

National Express operates up to seven coaches a day from Norwich (UEA and Surrey Street) to Gatwick and back, day and night. They also pick up at Thickthorn park and ride, Wymondham, Attleborough, Thetford and Mildenhall. Coaches also stop at Stansted and Heathrow.
For details and prices visit www.nationalexpress.com or telephone 08717 818181.

Fighting poverty with music

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nyodema's third festival is a great success, bringing world music and arts to West Sussex and raising funds to help children in The Gambia.

Founder member and Gambia Experience designer, Kathryn Burrington, explains:

"Because we go out to The Gambia ourselves, we know the donations we receive go directly to the people who need the help."

Read Article
Bognor Today - Kevin Smith

2 Million Dalasi For Young Entrepreneurs

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Young entrepreneurs in The Gambia have a new source of finance available from next month to help them set up in business. The Gambia’s National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) has 2,342,240 dalasi available to assist forty three young vendors in establishing a shop or meat selling business.

Each of the successful applicants will receive a loan of D50,000 with an interest rate of 7% over two years. Training in managing finances will also be given.

The Gambia – increasingly a honeymoon hotspot

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia Experience Luxury Collection portfolio presents a range of properties perfect for a honeymoon in Africa’s ‘smiling coast’, The Gambia.
These include the boutique, former colonial mansion, Ngala Lodge, whose cliff top position, just outside Bakau, lends to views across the ocean. Each of the 18 suites are special, but for added indulgence The Penthouse - set over two floors with a private roof terrace and skylight overlooking the bed – should be considered, as well as the Atlantic Suites, complete with their own private Jacuzzi. Honeymooners receive a complimentary bottle of wine and cocktail, as well as personal waiter service for one evening. Extras such as beauty treatments in the suite can also be arranged at a supplement.

The award-winning Mandina Lodges at Makasutu set in a 1000-acre forest on a tributary of the River Gambia offer a unique honeymoon setting and can be booked as a complete holiday or as a three or four night add-on with a stay at a coastal hotel. Guests can choose from Floating, Stilted or Jungle Lodges, and by day can discover the bush on foot, observe wildlife, visit the resident Marabou (holy man) and explore the river by pirogue. The authentic African experience is heightened in the evening with local fire dancers. Those on honeymoon receive complimentary wine and flowers in their Lodge.

Since opening in December 2008, the boutique Coco Ocean Resort & Spa has raised the standard of accommodation in The Gambia, and is comparable to luxurious hotels in the Caribbean or Asia, yet costs much less. Sister property to the acclaimed Coconut Residence, Coco Ocean Resort & Spa occupies a prime elevated position on an unspoilt beach in Bijilo, and its Spa is the first of its kind in The Gambia. Moorish architecture, swaying palms, tropical gardens and stylish interior design provide the perfect setting to celebrate a special occasion. Honeymooners receive flowers and champagne on arrival, as well as a complimentary Hammam treatment in the Spa.

Commenting on The Gambia Experience Luxury Collection and its suitability for honeymooners, product manager Karen Durham comments:
“The Gambia has evolved and is attracting increasing numbers of ‘luxury’ clientele, including those wanting to celebrate their marriage or honeymoon abroad. The Gambia is excellent value for money meaning that indulgence can be enjoyed at a much-reduced rate. Our portfolio however, is wide, and includes suggestions for every budget, from 2 grade upwards.”

This winter, The Gambia Experience offers seven-night holidays at Ngala Lodge from £854 per person in a Suite on Bed & Breakfast, including flights, transfers and taxes.
The Gambia Experience also has a dedicated wedding coordinator who is able to assist couples in arranging their wedding, as well as their honeymoon in The Gambia. Each property within the tour operator’s Luxury Collection offers specific wedding packages. For more information, please call The Gambia Experience reservations department on 0845 330 2087, visit www.gambia.co.uk or email holidays@gambia.co.uk

Under 17 Matches Postponed

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A friendly football match between The Gambia and World Under 17s Champions, Nigeria, has been postponed until next month. Nigeria and Gambia Under 17s were due to play two friendly matches on 8th August and 11th August at the Independence Stadium and Brikama Box Bar Stadium but Nigeria failed to show aftert 16 of their 22-strong squad were found to be overage.

The games are now scheduled for 5th and 7th September, shortly before the Gambian Baby Scorpions leave for a training camp in the UK ahead of the Under 17 World Cup in October.

Coco Ocean: A Wedding & Honeymoon Oasis

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Since opening in December 2008, the boutique Coco Ocean Resort & Spa has been successful in attracting more couples wanting to marry abroad, as well as honeymooners to Africa’s ‘smiling coast’, The Gambia. Sister property to the already acclaimed Coconut Residence, Coco Ocean Resort & Spa occupies a prime elevated position on a secluded beach, and is offered exclusively through The Gambia Experience as the pinnacle of its Luxury Collection.

The Moorish architecture – clean, white domes exude an almost ethereal quality – swaying palms, tropical gardens and stylish interior design of the hotel lend themselves well as an impressive backdrop to either a wedding or honeymoon. There are 59 guest suites in total, including upgraded suites, penthouses and club villas; the four Royal Suites offering the ultimate in luxury, with private plunge pools and sea views. The room type selected determines access to exclusive swimming pools and / private sections of the beach.

The 1800sq metre, adult-only spa facility is an integral part of Coco Ocean Resort & Spa and is the first of its kind in The Gambia. A wide range of treatments is on offer by specialist therapists from around the world, and facilities include a thalassotherapy pool, sauna, plunge pool, fitness centre and relaxation lounges. Coco Ocean Resort & Spa is the only spa in The Gambia to offer the Moroccan Hammam treatment.

Mealtimes can be enjoyed in one of the hotel’s three restaurants, which make the most of ingredients from the Coco Ocean organic garden. The Courtyard restaurant is ideal for a leisurely champagne breakfast or for dining al fresco. The Coco Beach restaurant, built on the beach, largely out of glass, offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean; grills are the lunchtime speciality here, with Thai cuisine in the evenings. The management at Coco Ocean are happy to arrange special dinners in any location within the hotel grounds, including on the beach itself.

The Gambia Experience has a dedicated wedding co-ordinator in the UK, experienced in organising both weddings and honeymoons in The Gambia. She will discuss with each client their ideas for their wedding day and/or honeymoon and can also arrange extras such as Premium Class flights, private transfers, as well as the most suitable accommodation for both the couple and, if applicable, for their party.

The UK wedding co-ordinator will then work directly with the Coco Ocean reservations manager to hand over arrangements for the finer details of the wedding and/or honeymoon. Coco Ocean does not offer set packages, rather it tailors each couple’s requests individually. Important components such as the reception, music, flowers, catering and photography can all be discussed and quoted.

For more information, please call The Gambia Experience Wedding Co-ordinator, Nina Garrett on 0845 330 4567. The current Wedding Arrangement Fee of The Gambia Experience is £250. This winter (09/10) a 7-night holiday at Coco Ocean Resort & Spa starts from £975pp. This price is based on bed & breakfast accommodation (two sharing a suite), and includes return flights from London Gatwick, taxes and transfers. Upon arrival, complimentary flowers and champagne await the wedding or honeymoon couple, who also receive a complimentary Hammam treatment in the spa. More information is available on The Gambia Experience website, www.gambia.co.uk

Successful Start for the Coco Ocean Spa

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Since opening in December 2008, the boutique Coco Ocean Resort & Spa has been successful in attracting spa-seeking clientele to Africa’s ‘smiling coast’, The Gambia.
Sister property to the already acclaimed Coconut Residence, Coco Ocean Resort & Spa occupies a prime elevated position on a secluded beach next to Bijilo Forest Park Nature Reserve. Coco Ocean Resort & Spa is offered exclusively through specialist tour operator, The Gambia Experience, and is the pinnacle of its Luxury Collection.

The 1800sq metre, adult-only spa facility is an integral part of Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, and is the first of its kind in The Gambia. The Spa’s vision is to re-create a holistic tropical garden spa - enhanced by herbs used from the hotel’s own organic garden, and the Atlantic Ocean, only feet away. Facilities include a thalassotherapy pool, sauna, plunge pool, fitness centre and relaxation lounges. The colour scheme of the Spa - hues of lime green, yellow and lilac - complement the surrounding Moorish architecture.

A wide range of treatments is on offer by specialist therapists from around the world. These include more familiar facial and body treatments or massages, as well as options that are more unique to Coco Ocean, such as the ‘Compress Ball’ massage - a traditional Indonesian therapy, whereby a herb compress is applied along energy lines to give deep muscular and mental relaxation. Another example includes the ‘Gold Pearl Wrap’ - a mother of pearl body wrap, which gives the skin a slight tanning effect and gold shimmer, also aiding elasticity, hydration and firmness.

Coco Ocean Resort & Spa is also the only spa in The Gambia to offer a Moroccan Hammam treatment. The Hammam is a traditional Moroccan steam bathing and cleansing routine, used over centuries for deep exfoliation, detoxification and moisturising. Spa packages available include a ‘Detoxifying Day Package’, ‘Heaven of Traditions’ – Moroccan Hammam followed by a Hot Stone Massage, and concluded with a Chinese Foot Massage – as well as ‘Packages for Couples’, where treatments, such as a Chocolate Scrub, Massage, Facial or Manicure, can be enjoyed side by side.

This winter (09/10) a 7-night holiday at Coco Ocean Resort & Spa starts from £975pp. This price is based on bed & breakfast accommodation (two sharing a suite), and includes return flights from London Gatwick, taxes and transfers. Suite and flight upgrades can be quoted and Spa treatments can be pre-booked. A complimentary foot massage is included with all bookings. For more information, including a price list of Spa treatments, please call The Gambia Experience Reservations Dept on 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk

Plymouth-Dakar Rally

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Plans for the 2009/10 Plymouth-Dakar Rally are under way and the organisers are taking registrations from teams. This has always been a popular event since it began in 2002 and usually is over subscribed so if you are keen on participating we would recommend registering your interest as soon as possible.

This year there will be three departure dates for the Banjul Challenge part of the Rally, travelling around Christmas and New Year:

Group six departs on 18th December 2009 and participants will get to spend Christmas in Marrakech
Group seven departs on 26th December 2009 and New Year will be spent in Marrakech
Group eight departs on 8th January 2010

The 3700 mile journey normally takes just under three weeks and is open to left-hand vehicles which are sold on for charity once they reach The Gambia. The entry fee is £300. For more details visit http://www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk

Gambia: Go with the flow

James O'Donnell - Cloud Nine Magazine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Situated on the west coast of Africa the attraction is simple, you're only a short flight away from a tropical destination just over six hours from the UK and, as it;'s in the same time zone, there's no jet lag to contend with. Glorious African sunshine and temperatures averaging 31 degrees, combined with friendly English-speaking locals and the varied and mouth-watering cuisine make The Gambia different enough to be exotic, but easily accessible to visitors from the UK. What's more, it's outside the euro zone so your pounds go that little bit further...

Sheraton Summer Jazz Festival

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The 5* Sheraton Gambia Hotel is hosting a number of concerts this summer as part of its Summer Jazz Festival and to promote The Gambia as a year-round holiday destination.

In May the hotel held a cocktail party with music provided by Nina Van Horn, the French Blues and Jazz artist who has previously appeared alongside Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Bette Midler. She is currently on a worldwide tour promoting her new album “Hell of a Woman”.

The Festival also features Sandy Patton from 8th – 10th June and Celine Peltie from 22nd to 24th June. The Gambia Experience has some great last minute deals for travel in the next few weeks.

The Gambia Experience launches new 2009/10 brochure

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The UK’s leading tour operator to The Gambia, with twenty two years’ experience, releases its November 2009 – October 2010 brochure this week. The Gambia Experience reports continued strong sales and wishes to highlight the following about its new programme and the year ahead:

Confidence for the Forthcoming Season despite the Current Economic Climate
The Gambia Experience is pleased to report, that, despite current economic conditions its holiday bookings for 2008/2009 were actually up on the previous year.Chris Rowles, managing director of The Gambia Experience comments:

”The Gambia has always represented great value for money and in recent months we have noticed holidaymakers making a deliberate switch from long-haul destinations and coming to us to try something ‘new’ outside of the Euro-zone.”

Strong Hotel Bookings Year on Year
The Gambia Experience hotel portfolio for 2009/2010 presents 20 properties classified within one of three categories: ‘The Luxury Collection’ (including the Mandina Lodges at Makasutu and Sandele Bay Eco Retreat); ‘Excellent Quality Hotels’ or ‘Great Value for Money Hotels’ – many of which, particularly the ‘deluxe’ / ‘eco’, are exclusive to the tour operator. The Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, which opened in December 2008, has been successful in attracting yet more ‘luxury’ clientele to Africa’s ‘smiling coast’ and in the main has been fully-booked during its first six months of operation. Eight hotels have seen an increase in bookings over the last twelve months, including the boutique, former colonial mansion, Ngala Lodge.

Widest Range of UK Flight Options to Banjul
The Gambia Experience is keen to promote The Gambia as more than just a ‘Winter Sun’ destination and thus offers twice-weekly flights from London Gatwick to Banjul year-round. The exclusive ‘Premium Class’ flight upgrade will now be available twice weekly on this service from the Christmas period to mid-February 2010, with the Friday upgrade available throughout the whole of the winter season. Extra leg room seats will be available on a Tuesday outside of the Christmas – mid-February period. Throughout the winter season, weekly regional departures are also available from Bristol, East Midlands and - new for 2009/2010 – Birmingham. This winter, Manchester regional departures will operate twice weekly on Saturdays and Mondays, meaning The Gambia Experience can also exclusively offer 9 and 12 night durations.

Success of Twin-Centres with Senegal
Since its first season of operation (Winter 08/09), sister company The Senegal Experience has added three new hotels to its programme, meaning that the specialist now offers twelve hotels in total split between the regions of Saly and La Somone (50 kilometres south of Dakar), and the Sine Saloum Delta (a further 40 kilometres south & thus closer to The Gambia). A choice of three or seven night Tours is another new feature, encouraging further exploration and covering areas north of Dakar, as well as the Sine Saloum Delta, Eastern Senegal and The Gambia. With The Senegal Experience offering scheduled flights into Dakar, twin-centres between The Gambia and Senegal can easily be arranged, and the tour operator reports that since launching, bookings have exceeded expectations, hence the addition of new hotels to meet demand.

NEW Gambia Home Cookery Courses
The Gambia Experience has always presented opportunities for its customers to discover more of authentic Gambia, usually through excursions or twin-centre options with its eco-properties. Now, for the first time, The Gambia Experience is offering its clients a chance to learn some Gambian ‘home cookery’ skills. The day’s course includes visiting the local market, preparing and cooking a traditional meal and eating ‘with the family’. There is also the added option to experience and learn local drumming skills.

Chris Packham returns to The Gambia – February 2010 Birdwatching Tours
Celebrity ornithologist Chris Packham - currently co-hosting BBC2’s Springwatch - is once again returning to The Gambia to lead four or seven day Birdwatching Tours departing in February 2010. Full itineraries are available by visiting www.gambia.co.uk/chrispackham

Responsible Tourism Update
The Gambia Experience is now accredited with 5-star AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) Responsible Tourism status - the highest level possible.

Accolades for The Gambia Experience over the last year include its employee, Kathryn Burrington, being crowned Winner in the AITO Achievement in Responsible Tourism Awards 2008. The Gambia Experience’s School Development Fund maintains momentum and this year will be donating 145,000 dalasi to help four Gambian schools with essential building work.

The Gambia Experience Brochure & Website www.gambia.co.uk
The Gambia Experience is continually looking to minimize its impact on the environment and this year has reduced the number of pages in its brochure. This means that certain hotels now only feature online. The Gambia Experience website also includes video footage and photo galleries, and is in general seen as a great information resource to The Gambia.

Early Booking Offers / Money off Vouchers
A number of Early Booking Offers are available, valid for holidays booked by 17 July 2009. These include free room upgrades, half board upgrades and per person discounts, resulting in savings of up to £140 per person. Once a holiday is booked, the client will receive a complimentary 156-page Gambia Experience, ‘Gambia Guide’, which includes discount vouchers, valid at restaurants and bars throughout the coastal resorts.

The Gambia Experience offers 7-night holidays from £495 per person, based on bed & breakfast accommodation at the 2-grade Hotel Palma Rima. Holidays including a hotel within the Luxury Collection start from £664 per person (based on bed & breakfast accommodation in a standard room at the 5-grade Kairaba Hotel). Both include return flights from London Gatwick, taxes and transfers. For more information, please call The Gambia Experience Reservations Dept on 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk

Prize: Holiday for Two in The Gambia

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One lucky couple from East Claydon in Buckinghamshire will be returning for a second holiday in The Gambia after winning The Gambia Experience annual prize draw.

Mr & Mrs Litherland travelled to The Gambia in March 2009 for the first time and enjoyed ten nights at the Atlantic Beach Hotel in Banjul. At the end of their holiday they completed a holiday questionnaire to give their thoughts on the hotel, the flights, the weather and the country as a whole; theirs was the lucky one to be plucked from thousands to win the annual prize of a holiday for two.

All holiday questionnaires completed and returned to The Gambia Experience are entered into the draw. Plus there is another incentive for holidaymakers to return the questionnaire – for every 100 the company receives, £10 is donated to The Gambia Experience School Development Fund. The Fund donates money to schools in The Gambia to assist with essential buiding work or purchase equipment. To date they have helped more than 85 schools across The Gambia.

President Jammeh Celebrates 44th Birthday

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Jammeh celebrated his 44th birthday at The Kairaba Hotel in Kololi which coincided with a gala dinner to raise funds to support The Breakthrough. The lavish affair was attended by thousands of Gambians and non-Gambians as well as various famous Gambian and Senegalese artists who performed for the President.

How The Gambia's People Showed Me the Richness of Life

Andy Darlington - Derby Telegraph — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

HOW THE GAMBIA’S PEOPLE SHOWED ME THE RICHNESS OF LIFE
THE difference between rich and poor in the Gambia is simply staggering.
At one end of the scale, people live in mud huts or shacks of corrugated iron with little money, healthcare or prospects for a cosy retirement. Life expectancy is about 59.
At the other end are some of the most opulent hotels on the planet. One reminded me of Saddam Hussein's famous palaces. Naturally, these are all aimed at Western tourists.
Yet despite their poverty, the Gambian people are warm, welcoming and happy. Money is not an issue for them. The global recession means nothing in the capital, Banjul.
Their passion is not for climbing the career ladder or getting the largest flat-screen TV, but enjoying life, being happy and loving and providing for their families.
They also love British people. The Gambia was a British colony from 1889 until 1965 and the locals still affectionately refer to white people as "Two Bob" – the price early colonists paid to hire locals as servants.
There is no place for racism in the Gambia and, because of this, I felt humbled during my stay and ashamed of attitudes held by some in the supposedly more advanced West.
I stayed in the capital, Banjul, on the southern banks of the Gambia River's estuary with the Atlantic. The nation surrounds the northern and southern banks of the river, running from west to east for about 200 miles and bordered on all sides, aside from the river mouth, by Senegal.
My trip began with a thrilling four-wheel drive journey in a battered truck converted, with seats, to carry passengers in the back. To say it was a bumpy ride is an understatement. Most roads are dirt tracks. Others are streambeds.
On the roadsides of the larger streets were children waving hello, women in robes of vibrant colours and, oddly, lots of men mending lots of bicycles!
Into the jungle we went to visit the Beekeeping in the Gambia project in Kiang West.
After a traditional dance by the women, I was shown the hives and a shop from which honey and beeswax candles could be bought.
The next stop was a tiny village of mud huts, far from the dusty towns and cities. Large families live in compounds and will probably never leave.
With the Muslim family I met, none spoke English – the first language of the Gambia. But my guide was able to translate and reveal the men could have up to four wives. The man we met had one. He couldn't afford more, he said. Yet, he did have about a dozen children.
Family members sleep in a single mud hut – the children on mats on the floor. They live outside their home in the compound and fields nearby, the adults farming and preparing food and the children playing football and looking after goats. The family invited me into their home and explained how they lived. The children were in awe when I took their photos on my digital camera and showed the pictures to them.
A trip to the Makasutu Culture Forest followed. It boasts luxury lodges on stilts for guests on a mangrove-clothed tributary of the River Gambia in the heart of the bush. I took a canoe trip to see some of the wildlife. I saw kingfishers, lizards and fiddler crabs waving their one big claw as we sailed past. A word of caution – do not take the trip when the tide is low, as the canoe tends to become grounded and you'll be pushing it.
After dinner, I was treated to entertainment, featuring fire-eaters, dancing and music.
Another highlight was a trip to a primary school in Banjul. The teachers are caring and the children eager to lap up all they are taught. Not all have parents rich enough to send them to school. The children were happy to demonstrate their singing in the classroom and dancing in the playground.
On my final day, I hired a taxi driver for a couple of hours – that's how it's done there – and, being a football fan, went to see the Independence Stadium in Bakau. A guard showed me round the modern, 25,000-capacity stadium and I returned to the taxi – a battered Peugeot which had never seen an MoT.
The driver asked if I'd like to see crocodiles in the wild. As with the stadium, this wasn't on the official itinerary.
Off we set to a large pond in a wooded glade in Kachikally. Dozens of crocs were lounging in the sun as we walked past, inches from their huge open mouths and razor-sharp teeth.
It will stay with me forever – walking round marvelling at these magnificent beasts, which could have destroyed us I was introduced to Charlie – the oldest croc – and invited to stroke his ice-cool back. What an experience!
I could bang on about the luxury hotels built for the tourists but I'm not going to. That is what the internet is for.
The people are what this nation is all about. Everyone I met had a welcome and a beaming smile. Their happiness is infectious and their lack of want for possessions refreshing. The nation boasts just three cash machines. I'd never considered visiting Africa before, but I can't wait to return.
INFORMATION
GETTING THERE: The Gambia Experience is the UK’s biggest tour operator to The Gambia. For more details, call 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk/travel
GETTING AROUND: West African Tours provide trips, guides and drivers. Bookings can be arranged through The Gambia Experience.
WHERE TO STAY: Corinthia Atlantic Hotel – www.gambia.co.uk/Corinthia-Hotel
HOW MUCH: Prices start at £599 per person, which is based on seven nights bed & breakfast from East Midlands.

Deal or No Deal Contestant Wins Support For Children’s Charity

Thu, 21 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A contestant on the Channel 4 show Deal or No Deal has received support from viewers after winning just £20 on the show. Lamin Daffeh appeared on the show, hosted by Noel Edmonds, on Friday 8th May and was hoping to win up to £250,000 for the charity Fresh Start Foundation (FSF) which he founded with his wife Rebecca. Despite winning just £20 Mr Daffeh has received hundreds of emails and wishes of support since the show as well as financial donations.

FSF supports a school and health centre in the village of Kwinella, The Gambia. Now Mr Daffeh is looking for more support, asking for fundraisers and donations. For more details visit www.fsfgambia.org or call 01905 20058.

New 2009/10 Holiday Brochure Out Soon

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The new 2009/10 Gambia Experience brochure is currently at the printers and will be available from the middle of June. A number of early booking offers will be available for a limited period to coincide with the launch of the brochure so the specialist tour operator is urging travellers to request a copy in advance to ensure they don’t miss out on the deals.

The brochure features the widest range of flights and accommodation available to the UK market and new for this winter are flights from Birmingham, Saturday departures from Manchester, home cookery courses and more twin-centre options with neighbouring Senegal. To order a brochure click here.

A Moorish Experience

Jane Sullivan - Hampshire Society Magazine — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Warmest of Welcomes in West Africa

Jane Labous - The Sunday Express — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Jane Labous combines sunbathing at a Gambian resort with a 4x4 tour exploring the coast of neighbouring Senegal and visiting deserted islands.

A MAN PARADES a selection of extra-large men’s vests in front of me, and looks astonished when I shake my head. “But madame?” Men’s underwear isn’t the only thing I’m offered during my ferry ride across the river between Gambia and Senegal. There’s the water pistol, the scarlet satin skirts, the temptingly named Blue Feeling perfume, not to mention the ground millet (“makes you strong, madame!”), peanuts, matches and frozen bissap. I refuse all but the bissap, West Africa’s irresistible, all-natural version of Slush Puppie made from hibiscus flowers and sugar.
Gambia is a sliver of an English-speaking nation buried in Francophile Senegal.
By flying into Banjul and out of Dakar, Senegal’s capital, you can see both in one trip, combining sunbathing at one of Gambia’s Atlantic resorts with a 4x4 tour up the Senegalese coast. Both countries boast blue skies and sun, their cultures infused with a particular brand of West African flamboyance, music and cheerful opportunism.
In Banjul, the village-like capital of Gambia, Albert Market is a jigsaw of stalls selling pungent dried fish, rolls of tie-dyed cotton, cascades of vegetables and strange apothecary remedies for everything from impotence to headaches.
I’m staying at Ngala Lodge, a few miles outside Banjul on the stretch of blue Atlantic that the Gambians call the Smiling Coast. My room at the top of the old colonial mansion is furnished with wood carvings, a four-poster bed and a pair of spectacular orange curtains printed with the figure of an African woman. The balcony looks on to well-tended tropical gardens and, beyond, the ocean, where at sunset the smiling coast blushes rosy pink.
West Africans are proud of the “teranga”, or hospitality, that’s legendary in these parts.
When my guide Yamar and I reach the Senegalese border, the customs official nearly explodes with excitement when I attempt a few words of the native language. Heading north towards the Sine Saloum Delta, where the Sine and Saloum rivers meet the Atlantic, we cross flat plains dotted with baobabs, the giant trees with muscular, root-like branches, which can hold up to 1,000 gallons of water and live 3,000 years.
We enter the Palmarin region, where palm-fringed islands are scattered among “bolongs” or natural canals bordered by mangroves. Beneath the dome of white-hot sky the landscape is lush. Drifts of water lilies float beneath mango trees alive with birdsong and I spot ospreys, pelicans, weaver birds and the glamorous pink flash of a flock of flamingos.
Le Royal Lodge is the Delta’s most luxurious hotel, where I’m given my own “boutique version” of a mud hut with a spiralling bamboo roof, smooth red walls and all mod-cons. Most stunning are the bedspreads, chairs, lamps and curtains made from earth-printed Malian fabric in black and brown patterns.
During the day I visit uninhabited Sangomar Island. Afterwards, fisherman Bachir navigates our painted boat through the mangroves, pointing out the oysters growing on the roots and the tiny, single-pincer “violin crabs”.
Along the coast is Saly, Senegal’s most popular resort. I’m staying at the Lamantin Hotel, a serene place with air-conditioned rooms. On the crescent of white beach, the waitress brings chilled watermelon and families whizz about the calm bay on jet skis. The breakfast buffet is resplendent with baobab and bissap jams, fresh croissants and mangoes, while the evening spread features Senegalese dishes, from salted sea bass to marinated sardines.
Dakar is just 90 minutes from Saly. The battered yellow and blue minibuses that form its intercity service trundle along streets crowded with boys selling oranges from wheelbarrows and stately Senegalese ladies in vivid boubous, West Africa’s traditional dress. The country’s most famous musician, Youssou N’Dour, lives near my hotel, the Madrague in Ngor, on the coastal outskirts of the city. It’s a tranquil area; boys play football on the beach, goats drift among the sunseekers and a holiday atmosphere prevails.
Best of all is the painted fishing boat taking tourists across the bay to Ngor island, which costs just 50p. Here you can dine royally on thièbu dieun, Senegal’s national dish of rice and fish, for £3, or laze beneath a parasol. You might even be lucky enough to catch one of the rastafarians playing his “djembe” hand drum and when the lady trying to sell you a necklace starts dancing instead, you know you’re in West Africa.

GETTING THERE
The Gambia Experience / The Senegal Experience (0845 338 8706 / www.senegal.co.uk) offers an eight-night, twin-centre Gambia and Senegal holiday from £1,332pp (two sharing), including four nights B&B at Ngala Lodge in the Gambia, four nights half-board at Le Royal Lodge in Senegal and return flights from Gatwick.

A one-day Islands and Waterways of Saloum tour is from £84 for two people.

Gambia Tourism Authority: www.visitthegambia.gm Senegal Tourist Office: www.senegal-tourism.com

Gambia Keeps Smiling

Thu, 07 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The past year has been a difficult time and many travel companies and countries which rely on tourism have been hit hard. We’re delighted to say though that the fantastic value, great weather and many attractions of The Gambia have continued to appeal and bookings for winter 2008/09 were actually up on the previous year.

The opening of Coco Ocean Resort & Spa brought a new clientele to the country and the development of twin centres with neighbouring Senegal also proved popular. The boutique Ngala Lodge also saw a healthy rise in guests as did the mid-range Kombo Beach and Atlantic Beach hotels.

Chris Rowles, managing director of The Gambia Experience, says “The Gambia has always represented great value and this year we’ve found people switching from long-haul destinations and also seen a large number of people booking who are avoiding the euro-zone. The range of hotels means there is something for everyone from simple 2 grade hotels to luxurious spa resorts. In The Gambia approximately 1 in 7 jobs is within the tourism sector so we will continue to work hard to support the country’s tourism industry.”

Manchester to Gambia Saturday Flights

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia Experience is now offering flights to Banjul, The Gambia departing from Manchester on a Saturday. This is particularly good news for teachers, families and other travellers restricted to school holidays and also means most travellers will benefit from only having to take five days off work for a week-long holiday, as opposed to six for a Friday departure. The Gambia Experience expect the flight to be popular, particularly during school holidays so recommend booking early.

The Saturday flight from Manchester replaces the service on a Friday from November 2009 and continues throughout the winter season. It also means that 9 and 12 night durations are also possible through The Gambia Experience as the company also offers a flight between Manchester and Banjul on a Monday.

Plymouth Banjul Challenge

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Last week the Plymouth Banjul Challenge donated two ambulances and a trekking vehicle to the Gambia Red Cross Society, the police and Afrikaada Teeth Savers. The donations come after the drivers encountered difficulties in Morocco which resulted in them initially returning to the UK before a second attempt bypassing Morocco. In addition to these donations, more than 60 cars which participated in the rally were auctioned off earlier this year raising more than £67,000 for community projects in The Gambia.

The rally was started 7 years ago by Briton Julian Nowill and is a cheaper alternative to the prestigious Paris-Dakar rally. All competing cars are left-hand drive, must cost less than £100 and must be donated to the charity auction on arrival in The Gambia. To check out photos and stories from previous rallies and to find out about applying for the 2009/10 Plymouth-Banjul Challenge visit http://www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk

New Guide to The Gambia & Senegal

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Insight Guides have produced a new 352-page guide to The Gambia & Senegal, highlighting the best of the two West African countries using a large number of inspiring colourful images and detailed information. The book not only gives potential tourists the necessary details to plan a holiday, it also provides interesting background information on the countries’ culture, history, traditions and wildlife.

The top ten sights include the Atlantic beaches; the Senegambian Stone Circles at Wassu; the national parks of River Gambia and Niokolo-Koba; Makasutu Cultural Forest and Ile de Goree. Full-colour maps, restaurant guides and travel tips all help the more adventurous traveller looking to make the most of their time in the region.

For more information visit the Insight Guides website

Gambia Wins Under 17 Championship

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia has won the African Under-17 Championship, beating hosts Algeria 3-1 in the final last Thursday.

Ebrima Bojang scored twice during the final bringing his competition tally to four in five matches. The 16-year old is now rumoured to be in talks with Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan.

On the team’s return to The Gambia, tens of thousands of fans were waiting at Banjul Airport and lining the highway to Banjul where the players were met by President Jammeh. The celebration culminated in a night-long party at 22nd July Square in Banjul in honour of the team winning the tournament for the second time.

The Gambia was also awarded the Most Disciplined trophy and the goalkeeper was named as the best goalkeeper having only conceded one goal.

Why The Gambia makes sense this summer

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia is often thought of as a winter sun destination, but specialist The Gambia Experience is keen to emphasise that it operates its holiday programme year-round from London Gatwick.

Throughout the summer, the average temperature is 30 degrees and the climate in May and June is very similar to that in the peak winter season. From July to October the humidity is higher with the risk of short storms, however most of the rain occurs at night, thus not detracting from the overall holiday experience.

The Gambia in summer tends to be ‘quieter’ as certain hotels, restaurants or entertainment services cease to operate. For some, looking for an alternative to bustling Mediterranean resorts, this makes The Gambia even more appealing. Even in the winter, the breath of The Gambia’s vast, sandy beaches ensure that they are never congested with sunbathers – in the summer they are even less crowded.

Outside of the Euro-zone, The Gambia continues to offer excellent value for money, with the pound remaining strong against the Gambian dalasi.

This summer, The Gambia Experience is offering 7-night holidays from as little as £299 per person. This price is based on bed & breakfast at the 2-grade African Village Hotel, situated in the vibrant town of Bakau, and includes return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and taxes. (This price is based on 05 May departures).

The Gambia Experience features a Luxury Collection, much of which is exclusive to its brochure. Valid for 01 May – 02 July departures, the tour operator is offering selected 5-grade hotels at 3-grade prices. For this period, this means that 7-night deluxe holidays at the 5-grade Kairaba Hotel in Kololi are available from £643 per person. This price includes breakfast, return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and taxes.

Additional Luxury Collection hotel offers include free room upgrades at both the Coconut Residence and sister property, the Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, all valid May – October. This can result in savings of over £200 per person per week, depending on whether the upgrade is to a Deluxe or Superior Suite. Plus, upgrading one’s board basis has become even better value with the 5-grade Sheraton and Kairaba hotels, as well as the 4½-grade Ocean Bay hotel, all offering Half Board at Half Price throughout May.

The Gambia Experience also offers attractive lead-in prices to coincide with the school holidays. Valid for departures on either 22 or 26 May to complement Half Term, the specialist is offering 7-night holidays from £499 per person. This price is based on 2-grade accommodation, allocated on arrival, and includes return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and taxes. In August, 7-night holidays start from £599 per person, based on bed & breakfast at the 2-grade Sarges Hotel in Kololi, and include return flights from London Gatwick, taxes and transfers (price based on 28 August departures).

The boutique Ngala Lodge, located on the outskirts on Bakau is part of The Gambia Experience’s Luxury Collection and would particularly suit those who prefer an adult-only hotel. This June, 7-night holidays at this former colonial mansion start from £499 per person, resulting in a strong saving of £264pp from brochure price. Return flights from London Gatwick, transfers and taxes are included. This offer is available for a limited period, so clients are advised to book as soon as possible.

For more information please call The Gambia Experience Reservations Dept on 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk Please note that Child Discounts apply for those aged 02 – 15 years.

Gambia Top of Table at Under 17 Championship

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia finished top of Group A at the African Under 17 Football Championships after beating hosts Algeria 2-0 last night. The other match in the group between Cameroon and Guinea ended in a scoreless draw.

Both Burkina Faso and Niger are already through to the semi-finals but the Group B placements will be decided tonight when they play each other. The semi-finals will be held in Algeria on Sunday 29th March with the final on Thursday 2nd April. By reaching the last four, Gambia also qualify for the Under 17 World Cup to be held in Nigeria in October.

Gambia Through To Under-17 Semi-Final

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia is through to the semi-finals of the African Under 17 Football Championship after beating Cameroon 2-0 in Sunday’s game. The win means that they don’t need points from tonight’s game against hosts Algeria, but they will be competing for the top spot in Group A.

Algeria are also already through to the semi-finals after beating Guinea on Sunday 1-0. Both Gambia and Algeria already have six points in Group A, whilst Guinea and Cameroon have lost both their matches. In Group B Burkina Faso and Niger are also already through to the semi-finals, with six points each.

The semi-finals will be held in Algeria on Sunday 29th March with the final on Thursday 2nd April. By reaching the last four, Gambia also qualify for the Under 17 World Cup to be held in Nigeria in October.

Lighting Up The Gambia

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A project is underway in The Gambia to install 1200 street lights across the Greater Banjul Area and add decorative lights to Arch 22 and Denton Bridge. The project is being funded by the OPEC Fund for International Development and the work is being carried out by the Global Trading Group (GTG).

The project is due to last for twelve months until January 2010 but it is hoped that the first phase (Westfield to Banjul Highway) will be completed before the birthday of President Jammeh on 25th May. 300 people are being employed on the project, 98% of which are Gambian and it is hoped that when finished it will help boost tourism and small scale businesses.

Spring into Sunshine!

Suzanne Rice - She magazine — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kathy Burrington of The Gambia Experience Wins Responsible Tourism Award

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Kathy Burrington, who is a graphic designer for The Gambia Experience, has received the prestigious AITO Achievement in Responsible Tourism Award. This is the first occasion that the winner of the award is based on the responsible tourism efforts of an individual rather than that of a company.

Kathy, with a couple of her friends, founded a charity called ‘Nyodema’ which means ‘Helping Each Other’ in Mandinka. To raise money, they organised a ‘World Music & Arts Festival’ in Bognor Regis, West Sussex that proved a great success and now looks set to become an annual event. A number of fundraising evening gigs also mean that the charity continues to operate throughout the remainder of the year, as well as promoting multi-cultural awareness. Moneys raised in 2008 have funded:

· 120 insecticide-treated mosquito nets distributed to Gambian children in Brikama (bringing the total to date of 260 nets)
· 40 teachers at two Gambian schools have been trained in “Jolly Phonics” - a method of teaching English widely used throughout the UK educational system
· Sponsorship for one Gambian teacher, enabling her to finish her teacher training course
· First-aid training for five Gambian teachers

To find out more about AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) visit www.aito.co.uk
To find out more about Nyodema visit http://www.gambia.co.uk/Docs/About-Us/Charity-Work/Nyodema.aspx or http://www.myspace.com/nyodema

Luxury Gambia? I should Coco

Morwenna Ferrier - The Observer — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

As a rule, I avoid conversation on flights. Partly because diazepam makes me slur and partly because I was told never to talk to strangers. But, as it transpires, I am something of a novelty on this flight. I'm heading for Banjul, capital of the Gambia, and all around me sturdy geriatric twitchers are sipping G&T and popping malarials.

I am the flight's youngest passenger and small talk will be unavoidable. Queuing for the loo an elderly man cracks a joke about blood pressure and offers me a pear drop. I steer the conversation to birds. "I've been coming here for 20 years," he tells me. "The coast is the place for bird-watching." I tell him that we, too, are staying by the sea. "Well, be warned: the lads aren't used to young girls. I'd pop that ring onto the other finger." He winks. Twenty years ago, removing the ring or indeed anything of vague worth would have been better advice.

Tourism is still in its early stages. But in recent years, thanks to a six-hour flight from Britain, low prices, no time difference and a dramatic improvement in its hotels, the Gambia is an increasingly popular winter sun destination, it is also - my fellow passengers notwithstanding - starting to lure a younger crowd.
The newest and most flashy hotel, the Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, opened just after Christmas. Here, twitchers and honeymooners alike check in in their droves beneath a sky that teems with life. On the hotel lawn, white cattle egrets will sidle up to your lounger while, above, vultures circle like predatory biplanes. There are so many birds that when asked which kind is eyeing up your breakfast, staff simply grunt "owl".

Laid out with no evident symmetry just off Bijilo beach, the Coco has 58 rooms and suites - all cleaned and bug-sprayed twice daily, and all on a colossal scale. A few of the rooms are in the main building; most are individual villas scattered throughout grounds so extensive they would take 25 minutes to traverse on foot. I count three loungers per head and five waiters per diner. On each section of lawn - they're all surrounded by baobab trees - lurk further surplus members of staff, all resplendent in their palm-green-coloured uniforms.

A tropical garden planned for the rear of the hotel will add another acre and another 14 gardeners. Towards the beach, the grounds are bordered on one side by a shabby cafe manned by an over-friendly body board vendor and on the other by the Bijilo Forest nature reserve which, despite the hotel's high bougainvillea walls, sporadically expels Colobus monkeys from its canopy onto the hotel terrace. Dining here is a lazy, seven-star experience, with chipper waiters and hearty portions. Three dinners in, my body begins to protest at the extraordinary amount of seafood I am throwing at it and I debate leaving my claypot tuna under the table for the invaders, since feeding them bananas is prohibited by management.

The Coco Ocean's USP is its spa, which is Gambia's first. Housed in a Moorish-style villa, with domed ceilings, stark white walls and marble floors, this place oozes opulence and can be as taxing as you want it to be. Guests can work up a sweat on a treadmill or fizz the dead skin off their backs in the thalassotherapy pool. I ease myself into the grandeur with four treatments: a foot massage, followed by a facial and an Indonesian back massage with herbal compresses, and culminating on day five with a Moroccan hammam rub.

In the treatment rooms they switch off the piped music because the sea is so wonderfully booming, and by day two my feet, which have been cocooned in thermal socks for five months, feel reborn. On day three I fall fast asleep during the facial and awake shiny-cheeked ready for an equally faultless back massage which leaves me smelling of dead flowers. Day four brings my hammam treatment: steaming, washing, mud pasting and scrubbing. It isn't unpleasant. It merely offers a glimpse into my inevitable, incontinent future.

By day five I am incapable of brushing my own teeth and ill-prepared for what lies beyond the hotel's walls. Out here, the real Gambia is wild and stark. The sun is strong and the wind stronger. Markets swell with people, and roads are red dust and tarmac. Goats sniff at eggshells and the cattle look haggard but, according to our driver, make good steaks.

Even the coastline, rolling and white and palm-tree'd though it is, can be off limits to bathers. Every morning, just beyond the grassy knoll, the danger flag would be hoisted, red and ugly. There are two pools at the hotel, but in a fit of rebelliousness, I venture knee-deep into the sea on day one and am ushered out by a steward.

Unlike in many Caribbean resorts the beaches of the Gambia aren't private, so expect to see local men working out like it's Venice Beach. There is security, though, and how necessary this is becomes apparent when one guest has her bag snatched by a local "bumster" (the Bradt Guide has a whole chapter on these guys). I ask a steward whether this happens regularly. He shakes his head and says things are much improved since the 80s. He tells me the bumsters are chancers, and I decide to regard the bag-snatching as just a stroke of bad luck. He advises me not to go onto the beach alone but when I do, carrying my digital camera, I am ignored.

For some people the Gambia still comes with unpleasant connotations - malaria and sex tourism, not to mention the Fultons, the British couple recently sentenced to a year's hard labour for bad-mouthing the president. But these shouldn't be overstated. There was an outbreak of malaria among British tourists last December, but I am well-provided with malarone and Deet, and am not bitten once. The sex trade may still exist (Shirley Valentines were once common), but we see no clear evidence of it. And as for what happened to the Fultons, we simply avoid discussing the president with anyone.

Poverty remains widespread, of course, and some may find it hard to cope with the contrast between the smart resorts and what lies outside their walls. But for those looking for the African Caribbean, and affordable winter sun luxury, the Coco Ocean seems likely to prove a hit.

The Gambia Experience (0845 330 2087; gambia.co.uk) offers a week in a junior suite at the Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, Bijilo, from £899 including breakfasts, transfers and return flights from London Gatwick. Upgrades to half-board cost from £18 per night. The Bradt Guide to the Gambia (bradtguides.com) is an invaluable guide to the country.

Winter Sun and A Long Weekend in The Gambia

Bernadette Fallon - allaboutyou.com — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It's five hours' flying time from London with no time difference on arrival, has winter temperatures in the 30s and the most welcoming people who have earned it the name of ‘smiling coast of Africa'. So even if you are struggling with limited time and a limited budget it's still possible to soak up out-of-season rays.
Africa, the continent, is a much more viable winter sun destination than - current favourite - the Caribbean. Of course many of the countries that make up this land mass attract attention for all the wrong reasons, so it's worth putting The Gambia in perspective.

The population is mainly Muslim, non-extremist and extremely tolerant, living peacefully alongside a Christian minority. The country's hot season, from November to April, makes it an ideal winter sun destination; the wet season lasts from May to October. A former British colony, English is the official first language; The Gambia received its independence under a coalition government on February 18, 1965.

Which co-incidentally is the date of my friend's son's birthday - a fact that makes the locals on the beach cheer loudly when they hear it. It is this, the friendliness of the people, that makes me think I will return to The Gambia some day, and of course the promises myself and my friend make to all our new-found friends - from the boys on the beach to the waiters at the hotel - to come back some day and see them.

The Gambia - getting there
If you are opting for a short break in The Gambia - and with the five-hour flight and no time difference, it's a realistic option - it's better to book through an experienced operator. We travelled with The Gambia experience and had the luxury of knowing we were being picked up at the airport and dropped to our hotel, a tour representative was available to give advice on the local area and excursions, and we were sent lots of information about the country and what to expect before we went - right down to local currency to tip porters at the rather hectic Banjul airport. (Note - you may also find it useful to take a guide book, I used the Bradt Guide to The Gambia, www.bradtguides.com.)

Flight times are twice weekly, so you can travel on a Friday morning as we did, be in The Gambia in time for afternoon tea and fly home Tuesday evening for work on Wednesday! Basic packages include flights, transfers, accommodation and local info - upgrade to Premium (from £249 return) for extras like flight upgrade, extra luggage allowance, access to airport lounge, tips for porters and more. A Gold package (from £39 on selected flights) offers a middle ground, with some of the premium benefits at a cheaper price.

Like many other regions, The Gambia is developing its tourist industry and expanding its range of choice. Tourism is now the third biggest national earner and has brought great employment to the country. And while it might be slightly incongruous to have luxury hotels offering amenities at prices many Gambians can't afford, the employment and training such institutions provide are welcomed by everyone we spoke to. They offer local residents income and training, and the skills to potentially open their own businesses as the region attracts more visitors.

Coco Ocean Resort
One of the newest hotels in the country - just six weeks old when we visited and still in its ‘soft opening' phase - is the sumptuous Coco Ocean Resort & Spa. A magnificent Moorish temple to five-star comfort and style, on the edge of an unspoilt beach that stretches in each direction as far as the eye can see. The pounding of the waves of the Atlantic is the first sound you will hear in the morning and the last before you go to sleep at night.

It's a lavish design, sympathetic to the landscape. While the views of domed roofs rising beyond the castellated white walls at the edge of the sand lend an Arabian nights' mystique, the building has been carefully developed to hug the natural curve of the hillside as it slopes gently towards the beach. The hotel gardeners have been on site for several years so that the hotel sits amid a lush green landscape and, rather than knock down trees to make space for buildings, trees have been simply incorporated into the design. In this way the thick trunk of a Coli tree penetrates the centre of the gym, where treadmills with the best views in the world look out to sea.

Sumptuous spa
Also in this building, the pièce de resistance of the resort, the spa, is perfectly poised for ocean views, the tinted blue glass of the relaxation areas echoing the rich blue of the sea in front. This is surely one of the best placed spas in the world - the next day myself and my friend enjoy foot massages looking out to sea from our recliners on the edge of the Thalasso pool.

The spa's signature treatment, in keeping with the hotel's architectural heritage, is the Moroccan Hammam, a deep cleansing and exfoliating body treatment organised into several cleaning rituals. First a black olive all-over soap scrub, followed by an exfoliating body rub and finally a Rhassoul mud wrap, with mud from deep within the Moroccan mountains, infusions of steam throughout allowing the healing power of the minerals to penetrate deeply. In Morocco this is a weekly ritual for everybody from childhood, and I can see why. I feel renewed - due in no small measure to the entire layer of dead skin which has been removed from my body and now lies by my feet!

Fine dining
From Moroccan to Asian. Dinner that night in the Safran restaurant, where you can eat inside the light and airy space, or outside by the fountains (it's a bit chilly for us and we scuttle inside. The evenings can be very cool so pack sleeves as well as summer clothes) offers a menu of primarily Asian dishes (the chef is Thai), alongside a few African and European choices.

The hotel's own garden supplies seasonal organic ingredients; the following morning we help Farida, the hotel's director, pick fresh sage leaves and local herb Kilkileba for the spa's herbal teas. Energy is solar-powered - though some teething problems with the system mean the hot water supply is not totally regulated during our visit - like I said, the hotel is in ‘soft launch' mode.

The hotel facilities - two outdoor pools, spa, chillout lounge with (tiny) library - offer plenty of scope for relaxing. But what else can you do in The Gambia?
To read the remainder of Bernadette’s feature, please click to view the online version

The Gambia Celebrates Independence Day

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

On 18th February The Gambia will celebrate its 44th Independence Day. The Gambia gained independence from Britain in 1965 after 300 years of colonial rule. The day is a national holiday in The Gambia and across the world Gambians will be marking the occasion.

You can read more about how the Duke and Duchess of Kent visited The Gambia in 1965 to celebrate the end of British rule on the BBC website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/17/newsid_2546000/2546949.stm

Fighting Poverty With Music

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nyodema is a charity based in Bognor Regis, West Sussex which supports a number of projects in The Gambia, primarily focusing on children’s health and Education. The charity hosts a number of music and arts events throughout the year with all proceeds going towards teacher training, malaria prevention and sponsoring children through school in The Gambia. The next forthcoming fundraising event is a Gospel singing workshop and performance on 16th May.

For more information on the charity, the events and how you can help visit www.myspace.com/nyodema

Gorgeous Gambia

Laura Powell - West Weddings Magazine — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Laura Powell is seduced by the raw charm of The Gambia and discovers some romantic honeymoon settings.

GIG Celebrates Three Awards In 2008

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

GiG (Gambia is Good) has been celebrating a very successful 2008 after receiving three prestigious awards last year.

GiG is a fair trade project supported by Concern Universal, British organic farmers Haygrove Ltd and The Travel Foundation. It aims to connect poor rural farmers in The Gambia with the country’s tourism industry. The result is increased earnings for farmers and a reduction in imported goods. The project currently trains, supports and purchases produce from approximately 1000 farmers in the Western and North Bank Regions of The Gambia.

In 2008 GiG and its partners won:

the Best for Poverty Reduction category at Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards organised by responsibletravel.com (November 2008)
Haygrove Ltd was one of ten winners of the 2008 World Business and Development Awards (WBDA) recognising the private sector in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (September 2008)
Concern Universal was announced as 2008 Charity of the Year in the International Aid and Development Category with specific recognition of its Gambia is Good initiative.

Find out more at www.concern-universal.org
Source: Gambia is Good

A place in Africa that is well worth a return visit

Derek James - Norwich Evening News — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The moment you step out of the airport the adventure starts… there’s never a dull moment in The Gambia, the little country with the big heart, where the welcome is as warm as the sun. DEREK JAMES reports from the Smiling Coast and recommends a visit to blow away the recession blues.
It may be the smallest country on mainland Africa but it has so much to offer… and it’s the nearest place in the winter where the days are almost guaranteed to bring wall-to-wall blue skies and hot sun.

There is something very special about The Gambia and you may discover that even before you land, during the flight that takes less than six hours and involves no time change.

When I visited before Christmas the plane was full of “repeaters” chatting to each other about their experiences and when a woman in the seat in front of me announced she was a “first-timer,” people were almost climbing over their seats to get to her. Don’t do this. You must do that and make sure you go there… the advice came thick and fast. The man sitting next to me, a Gambian returning home for the holidays, asked if it was my first time. I told him I had been several times. He just grinned and said: “You know what to expect then.”

I certainly did and then tried to remember when it was that I visited The Gambia for the first time. It must have been more than 20 years ago and there have been many changes since then as more people have discovered this enchanting little land on the awesome coast of West Africa facing the mighty Atlantic Ocean. And I have to admit that I am biased. I love everything about it… and if you are tempted to follow in my footsteps I recommend you book up with The Gambia Experience, the specialists, and the only operator flying in and out all year round. Most of their guides are Gambian and they are more like experienced travelling companions than reps and often become family friends.

At the moment The Gambia and its big brother neighbour Senegal are the only two countries offering package holidays in this part of Africa that is unlike anywhere else in the world. The Gambia Experience offers twin-centre breaks where you can spend a few days in each place to get a flavour of this pair of fascinating lands with so much to offer.

When I first went to The Gambia there were just a few hotels catering for winter sun seekers… since then many more have been built but the most recent developments are the most impressive. The new hotels that are quite stunning – and far better value that those in the more expensive Caribbean which offer a similar climate to The Gambia. Today there are holidays to suit people of all ages and all walks of life with prices starting from £299 for a week in a 2* hotel. If you want some action then head for “The Strip” where the Senegambia Hotel, The Kairaba and the cheap and cheerful Sarge’s Hotel sit. It’s packed with bars, restaurants and clubs.

If you are looking for a slightly more low-key resort then go to Kotu where there a number of hotels including the excellent Kombo Beach, bars, restaurants and shops. Cape Point is an area with more of an African feel to it and has some good hotels – from the small and friendly Cape Point to the plush Ocean Bay. The new hotels such as the Sheraton and the fantastic Coco Ocean Resort & Spa are the ultimate in beach resorts but if you looking for a taste of real Africa head out to the Mandina Lodges at Makasutu Forest. They are out of this world.

There also a number of combinations of offer so you can spend some time in The Gambia and Senegal with flights into both Banjul and Dakar. If you are thinking of visiting The Gambia here are the hotels and resorts I can recommend.

Mandina Lodges
Combine a three night visit with a coastal hotel. If your kind of holiday is fun and games around the pool and happy hour – and there’s nothing wrong with that – don’t opt for this place. If you are looking for somewhere in Africa that is absolutely stunning and quite unique then this is for you. Developed by two Brits, James English and Lawrence Williams who give every guest the VIP treatment, these lodges, either floating on the river or in the jungle, are unique. This is the ultimate in tranquil relaxation and within hours of arriving you will be at peace with yourself…spend your days on the river, in the 1000-acre forest, lounging by the pool and your nights at the lovely restaurant and then around the campfire. And what I loved most was the noise…that comes from the jungle at night and early in the morning. The accommodation and the food is fabulous. It is a memorable experience at a luxury, eco-friendly jungle retreat which now has links with the Eden Project.

Kombo Beach
If your kind of holiday is fun and games around the pool and happy hour – this is the place for you. But it is also a great 4* hotel and big enough for anyone who is looking for a quiet beach holiday in the heart of a small resort with everything you need. Look out for taxi driver JJ. He’ll show you his country – and ask him for a cheap price! The hotel, improved and updated in recent years, overlooks a large sun kissed beach. It has four bars and four restaurants offering food from around the world and good entertainment at night. All the rooms come with airconditioning and good sized balconies or terraces. It sits in large gardens and you can either get involved in the activities or enjoy your own company. Nearly all the guests I spoke to were regulars and four came from Norfolk.

Sheraton Resort & Spa
Perched on three cliff levels overlooking a golden sandy beach this captures the essence of chic recreation. A new 5* hotel near in a beautiful spot near the village of Brufut. Standards are high and residents I spoke to said they loved the place, the world-class facilities and the team running it. It is well away from the hustle and bustle of the resorts but they are only a ten minute taxi ride away.

Coco Ocean Resort & Spa
This is the latest hotel to be built in The Gambia and it is one that reaches new standards of accommodation in the country. It is on a par, probably better, than most boutique hotels you will find in the Caribbean. Designed and created by the owners of the gorgeous Coconut Residence this is absolutely stunning. A perfect choice if you are looking for luxury There are 24 suites and penthouses and four Royal Suites that come with their own private plunge pools and 14 Club Villas. And it is only a 20-minute stroll along a beautiful beach to the resort of Kololi.

On Location: Gambia

Sasha Barrie - Marie Claire online — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Gambia

We stayed at…

Ngala Lodge, an adults-only boutique hotel set on the cliffs near Bakau. It’s part of the Luxury Collection offered by The Gambia Experience. A seven-night package in March costs from £799 per person, including flights, taxes, transfers and breakfast. Or try the new Coco Ocean Resort, which has a secluded beach and large spa.

While you’re there…

Get into nature with a stay at the waterside Mandina Lodges at Makasutu, an award-winning eco-hotel situated on a tributary of the Gambia River.
Hit the markets to buy ethnic jewellery, CDs of West African music and wildly coloured fabrics.
Dine out. There’s a good mix of cuisines here – we liked The Clay Oven, a popular Indian restaurant in Bakau.
Travel inland. For a range of guided trips, click here.
Visit neighbouring Senegal, where the culture has French influences. Twin-centre holidays visiting the Sine-Saloum Delta and Saly region can be arranged through The Gambia Experience.

We flew to…

Banjul, the capital of this friendly, English-speaking country. With a warm, tropical climate (the dry season runs from November to May), palm-fringed beaches and no jet lag, Gambia is a popular choice for an exotic winter break. Monarch Airlines has regular charter flights from Gatwick. Gambia & Senegal is a detailed guide, or click here for more information.

Words by Sasha Barrie, Friday 30 January 2009

Record Day for Gambia Bookings

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the recession, The Gambia Experience announced a record day for bookings last Monday (26 Jan) when agency sales to The Gambia exceeded expectations with sales higher than on any single day since January 2005.

The tour operator revealed that 50% of the bookings were for its top end properties, the majority of which were from the ‘luxury collection’ hotels including Ngala Lodge, Mandina Lodges at Makasutu and the newly opened Coco Ocean Resort & Spa.

Jason Dicks, the tour operator’s agency sales manager comments:
“This is amazing news, considering the current economic situation and we would like to thank all our travel agents for their continued support. The Gambia is proving an attractive destination for UK holidaymakers who are keen to avoid the Eurozone plus, with the increase in high quality accommodation, it’s also more appealing to those who would traditionally have travelled further afield for winter sun.”

The Gambia Experience is currently offering 7 nights bed & breakfast at boutique hotel Ngala Lodge from £799 per person for its Gatwick and Bristol departures in March 09. This price is based on two sharing and includes return flights; in-flight meals, transfers, regional flight supplement, airport taxes & government tourist tax.

Lifeguard Towers for The Gambia

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Gambia and Avon Fire Services in Partnership (GAFSIP) are raising money for project Red Dolphin, a beach safety project supported by the Responsible Tourism Partnership (RTP) and The Gambia Tourist Association (GTA).

Specialist tour operator The Gambia Experience has built three of the five watchtowers on the main tourist beaches whilst the RTP has built the other two. The towers are currently manned by volunteers who are provided with a meal from the nearby hotels but GAFSIP are hoping that the GTA will pay the lifeguards in future.

GAFSIP are hoping to raise £5000 to equip the towers. For more information visit www.gafsip.org

David Hutchings of GAFSIP said: “this is a basic and essential safety resource which we are proud to be involved with, it will also give us the opportunity to directly respond to Gambia Experience who have supported us since 1991. The beaches and sea are fantastic but the tides and currents can catch out the best of swimmers.”

Gambia offers a thrill ride for the senses

Rupert Hall - The Bath Chronicle — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Just one short flight from Bristol and Rupert Hall leaves the winter chill behind him and steps into the warm, friendly and exotic world that is Gambia.
At the age of 27 I like to think I’m well travelled after having driven across Europe, watched the New York skyline from the Empire State Building and camped at the foot of one of the largest mountain ranges in the Swiss Alps.
But none of this could have prepared me for my first taste of Africa, the Gambia.
It was a cold and dreary November morning when we stepped on to the plane at Bristol International Airport but one in-flight movie and a few hours snoozing later it was clear the big coats and sweaters we had used to fight the British weather belonged very much back at home.
It was only a short flight but it really felt as though we were in another world. Just six hours from Bristol lies a brilliant introduction to Africa with a consistently warm climate averaging daytime temperatures of around 30°C between July and September dropping to 24°C from December to mid February.
The strength of Gambian hospitality is also something which takes a little getting used to after having stayed in some of the world’s faceless chain hotels. Nothing was too much trouble,from the sometimes unnervingly friendly staff at the four star
Corinthia Atlantic Hotel to our hilarious guide Mucki.
Ours was a five-day trip but prices for a seven night stay at the Corinthia Atlantic start from £399 including flights and bed and breakfast leaving from Bristol International Airport.
Hospitality definitely defined our trip from the start. Being the intelligent male that I am I was pleased to have packed everything into one small bag. The only problem was I had forgotten to pack any sandals, an essential item when walking in the African heat. In Gambia this was not a problem and 50 Dalasis (about £1.20) and about three minutes later Mucki
re-appeared brandishing a pair of flip flops which were of course a perfect fit.
Gambia was a former British colony and English is now the official language despite the fact that the country, which is on the western coast of tropical Africa, is made up of eight different tribes each with their own traditions and language.
Our tour took in a trip to an eco-friendly retreat being built by a British couple with the help of a local community on Gambia’s south coast.
The Sandele Bay Eco Retreat has been designed to use environmentally friendly building techniques and the skills of local
craftsmen with a view to handing the whole resort over to the people of adjacent community Kartong in 25 years’ time.
Sandele features four suites with a further six planned for 2009, each with their own private cabana on the beach with a washroom, day bed and sunbathing deck. Later that day we were taken to meet another enterprising British duo, James English and Lawrence Williams, who have created an award-winning eco-resort of riverside lodges which provides
work for 250 members of the local community in an area which was facing the lack of income and education blighting so many of Africa’s poorest people. And rather than take the traditional road to the resort we piled into two dug-out canoes and
followed the river which turned out to be a great way to see some of Gambia’s famous 560 species of birds.
After watching the sunset over the river we were also treated to a series of traditional dance displays by some of the most colourful local tribes.
The Corinthia Atlantic is about a ten-minute walk from the main marketplace of the Gambian capital Banjul. This was an incredible experience but one that must be done with guides who know the unwritten rules of survival and bagging a
bargain in the market. Banjul’s market is a thrill ride for the senses with an amazing array of fresh fish and meats alongside locally produced clothing and crafts and the odd David Beckham T-shirt. But by the time the midday heat was upon us we took the short walk back to the hotel to rest with the occasional dip in the pool from which it was also easy to see the Atlantic lapping at the beach.
Although it has been an independent nation for more than 40 years, Gambia is still developing and late last year saw the
construction of one of the country’s most ambitious hotel resorts. The Coco Ocean Resort and Spa brings a whole new definition to the word luxury. With domes and arches and 24 suites and penthouses each overlooking a series of three tiered
swimming pools linked by fountains and flowing streams this really is hotel accommodation on a palatial scale.
The majority of rooms have sea views and four of the royal suites have their own private plunge pools. Coco Ocean took its first guests in December 2008 but logic would dictate its popularity should explode as few could fail to be stunned by its
jaw dropping beauty. Of course all this grandeur made getting on the plane to come home even harder but, like countless
others who experience Africa, I’m sure this will not be the last time I swap the winter coat and gloves for my Gambian sandals.

Where to go for Winter Sun and Why?

Fiona Cullinan - allaboutyou.com — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Eco-luxury on a budget - The Gambia

A six-hour flight (and no time difference) brings you to The Gambia, a river-based strip of land and former British colony surrounded on three sides by Senegal. At around 30°C, it's a winter-sun package-holiday favourite. Expect gorgeous Atlantic surf and sunsets, drum and dance nights amid mangroves, sacred crocodile pools and nature reserves. Though there is still hassle by local ‘bumsters', in the last two years, The Gambia has had a deluxe upgrade with its first five-star hotel (Sheraton Gambia), new hotel spas and gourmet restaurants. Responsible tourism is also taking off, particularly in Makasutu Cultural Forest and Kartong in the south.

Getting there: The Gambia Experience offers seven nights at the Mandina Lodges at Makasutu from £1,035 per person, staying in a Floating Lodge and including return flights from London Gatwick. A budget option is a seven-night B&B holiday at the African Village Hotel from £349 per person. (0845 330 2087, www.gambia.co.uk).

Pound Remains Strong Against the Gambian Dalasi

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia continues to offer excellent value for money with the pound remaining strong against the Gambian dalasi. Whilst the pound has fallen significantly against the euro, the US dollar and the Egyptian pound over the last few months hitting travellers hard, holidaymakers in The Gambia will get much the same rate of exchange as a year ago.

Since the start of the winter 2007/08 season the value of the pound has fallen by 28% against the dollar, 27% against the Egyptian pound and 22% against the euro but less than 1% against the dalasi.

It’s not only whilst in The Gambia that holidaymakers are realising the country’s value for money, 7 night package holidays are currently available for under £300.

Drivers Banned From Using Mobile Phones

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A new law comes into effect this month in The Gambia preventing motorists from using mobile phones whilst driving. The law was recently passed by Gambian Parliament and a statement issued by the country’s Inspector General of Police earlier this week stated that it will become effective this month.

New legislation also makes it compulsory for motorists and passengers to use seatbelts whilst on the roads. A fine of between 1,000 and 2,000 dalasi (£25 to £50) will be imposed for anyone found breaking the law.

Out of Africa

Jennifer Hobbs-Roberts - Vale Life — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

When the opportunity of visiting The Gambia presented itself, I thought this would be the perfect destination to be able to see more than just the usual tourist fare.

Go up the Creek without a Puddle

Andrew Eames - The Daily Express — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

With a year-round sunshine and a flight time of less than six hours from the UK, The Gambia's exotic wildlife and characterful lodges are within reach for a long weekend says ANDREW EAMES...

IT BARELY sounds possible, but within six hours of taking off from Gatwick on a grey winter’s morning, I am sitting on the balcony of my own floating lodge up a creek in The Gambia.

The sunset is flickering off the water, the creek bursting with fish and the sky veined with African egrets, returning from a day in the rice fields. A pair of giggling Mandinka women come scudding past on the rising tide, their hand-carved pirogues (canoes made from hollowed tree trunks) piled high with freshwater oysters. Meanwhile, the chef comes to enquire whether I’d prefer the ladyfish or chicken yassa for dinner. No chips or schnitzel here.

In this tiny west African country, tourism has been concentrated in an enclave of sizeable hotels on the beach. However there is a growing number of smaller, more characterful lodges popping up.

The best example is Mandina Lodges, eight eco-huts among laughing doves and malachite kingfishers, barely 20 miles from the airport. Mandina is the first luxury, safari-type lodgings to open in west Africa, and it is very much a labour of love.

Most of the love, and a great deal of the labour, is down to two Englishmen – Lawrence Williams and James English, who 12 years ago bought a scrap of land with the intention of setting up a backpackers’ retreat. In the end they acquired 1,000 acres of the monkey-rich forest, complete with resident palm-wine tapper and marabout, or holy man, and substantially upgraded their accommodation plans.

The result is inspirational: a huge pool, a jetty, a bar and restaurant made from rhun palm and malinda wood, with floating, stilted and jungle lodges each with a guide and their own dugout canoe.

Each lodge has a four-poster bed, private bathrooms open to the sky and fans rather than energy-sapping air conditioning. The two-storey stilted lodges have a separate bedroom and lounge area while the jungle-based ones have a private roof terrace overlooking the mangroves. People don’t come here for the party atmosphere, although the baboons can make quite a racket.

It’s a place to chill and forget the stresses of urban life. There’s something very satisfying about being in the same time zone as the UK; 9am in shivering London is shorts and fruit salad time on the Bolong Mandina, prior to pushing off in your canoe.

Guides suggest excursions: on water it could be fishing for barracuda and captain fish, or dawn and sunset paddling on the creek; on land there’s birdwatching trails and a walk in the woods to where the palm-wine tapper lives, for a cup of milky liquid which tastes like semi-fermented ginger beer.

Mandina is set in the Makasutu Forest with nature trails, wildlife trips and a clearing where craftsmen sell their products.

Tour groups come in here daily and villagers prepare lunch and sing for them. One of the most pleasing things about Mandina is that it is not an expatriate transplant. Williams and English, busy with new projects, largely leave it to their local team to run the lodge.

As well as Mandina, for a weekend break you could try the more modestly priced Safari Garden Hotel in Fajara, which is run by another British couple, Geri and Maurice Phillips. Set in a small compound within walking distance of the beach, their motel-style place has its own pool and restaurant, with cakes (beetroot and chocolate a speciality) made by Maurice.

While you’re there, ask them about their own eco-project, the Sandale Eco-Retreat, on the coast down towards the border with Senegal.

GETTING THERE:

The Gambia Experience (0845 330 2087/www.gambia.co.uk) offers three nights half-board at Mandina Lodges from £775pp (two sharing), including return flights from Gatwick to Banjul and transfers.

Safari Garden Hotel (dialling from the UK: 00 220 449 5887/ www.safarigarden.com) in Fajara offers doubles from

£29pp (two sharing), B&B. Gambia Tourism Authority: 020 7376 0093/www.visitthegambia.gm

* Something Different for the Weekend by Andrew Eames (Bradt Travel Guides, £9.99) is out now.

Where GMT is a slower pace

Delia Monk - Nottingham Evening Post — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

STANDING in the middle of a circle, I have about 100 pairs of wide brown eyes curiously watching me. Waiting for me to dance. As they start singing and clapping, I desperately try to remember the moves of the elegant eight-year-old, who has just shown me what to do, and I attempt to copy her.
I'm not sure if I've got it right but the teachers and children at this Gambian primary school are now smiling and nodding as I flap around imitating a bird learning how to fly.
The Gambians are warm and welcoming people and a visit to Campama Lower Basic in Banjul proved the point – as soon as we pulled up at the gates we were greeted by swarms of children who dragged us into their playground games.
Travelling to The Gambia – one of Africa's smallest countries on the West Coast – with the Gambia Experience took us off the beaten track.
In a country that has perfect weather almost all year round, it would be tempting to stay on the beach. But dragging yourself away is worth it.
One evening we took a trip to Makasutu, a beautiful resort hidden in jungle on the edge of the river. We enjoyed a lazy trip down the River Gambia in traditional wooden canoes.
Lazy, that is, until we realised the tide had gone out too far and we were beached.
There are worse places to be stuck, I thought, looking around the Mangrove-lined water, indulging in a bit of bird-spotting.
(There are many birds in The Gambia and you don't need to be an expert to appreciate their bright feathers and unusual tunes.)
We tried to push the boat back into deeper water, to the puzzlement of bathing locals.
"There's a turtle", cried our tour guide Muctarr Yankuba (known as Mucki), pointing to something by my left foot.
We all squealed with delight and bent down for a closer look... only to realise it was a crab, which led to more squeals and splashing.
Eventually we made it to the other side of the Makusutu resort, where we spent the rest of the evening and later enjoyed some traditional dancing.
Mucki, who works for West African Tours, joined us for dinner and let us quiz him about The Gambian way of life.
It is known as the Smiling Coast for a reason – the Gambians probably have the biggest and best smiles I have ever seen and they have a lot to smile about.
Even though 70% of the population do not have electricity and most people don't have a car, The Gambia is a plentiful country.
Big families live together, looking after each other, and Mucki tells us with a cheeky grin that there is no credit crunch here – most people don't have bank accounts and borrowing just isn't a possibility.
Earlier that day he had pointed at a donkey and cart. "The Gambian BMW", he said.I think he could be on to something.
A trip to the market is a must – smoked fish is sold cheek by jowl with wooden masks, materials and fabric in every colour of the rainbow.
We took a hotel tour guide with us, who for a few pounds navigated us through the maze of stalls and helped us haggle over bargains.
There are plenty of eating options in The Gambia – the fish is some of the best I have ever tasted, and we begged chefs for recipes on a daily basis!
It is an ideal and affordable winter getaway – it is only about a six-hour flight from East Midland and there is no time difference.
GMT stands for Gambia Maybe Time. Life is at a slower pace and a watch is one thing you can leave at home.
The Gambia travel facts
DELIA travelled to The Gambia with specialist tour operator The Gambia Experience and stayed at the four grade Corinthia Atlantic Hotel, which is ten minutes from the centre of Banjul.
Prices are from £399 per person based on seven nights bed and breakfast, departing January 23 and 30, inclusive of flights from East Midlands.
There is a wide selection of hotels with The Gambia Experience (www.gambia.co.uk) and it is also possible to stay in lodges at Makasutu Forest.
The Bradt Travel Guide The Gambia is £13.99 and available at www.bradtguides.com
Contact The Gambia Experience on 0845 330 2087 or go to www.gambia.co.uk/travel .

Sun Sea Sand and Fire in The Gambia

Dawn Hinsley - Lincolnshire Echo — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Winter Sun in The Gambia Stands up to Economic Pressures

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the economic recession winter sun bookings to The Gambia are up on last year says The Gambia Experience.

The total number of bookings for winter 2008/09 are up by around 1% to date. Chris Ayling, a company Director, says: “Although the increase in sales are marginal it’s very positive news in the current economic climate. Whilst many travel companies are facing difficulties our expertise, combined with The Gambia’s unfaltering appeal, is proving resilient.”

Ayling attributed the rise in bookings to the country’s broad appeal as well as the company’s 20 years experience. “The Gambia offers excellent value for money both for budget holidays and luxury hotels and we’re continuing to see strong sales for this winter. We also have a high percentage of repeat bookers which is helping us through this difficult period.”

He outlined the main reasons clients opt for winter sun in The Gambia: the short flight time, no jet lag, friendly English-speaking locals and fantastic weather being the main attractions in addition to the relatively low costs.

October and November have been particularly strong with bookings for the winter up by 14% year on year. In an effort to maintain high levels of bookings the company is offering holidaymakers savings on a number of holidays including Christmas and New Year breaks. For more details see special offers.

Only here for The Gambia

Gary Payne - The Sun — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

THERE was teeming rain as we landed at Gambia’s Banjul airport and I wondered if the airline had made some terrible mistake.
Africa is supposed to be hot and sunny, right? Not damp and overcast.
If I’d wanted this kind of weather, I’d have stayed put in Blighty!
Thankfully, it turned out to be a false alarm.
It was the final week of October and the last day of the rainy season.
And all that greeted us for the rest of our stay was scorching hot sunshine and pure relaxation.
Welcome to The Gambia, one of Africa’s smallest countries on the west coast, roughly on the same latitude as The Bahamas. Less than six hours from the UK and in the same time zone, the former British colony offers a cheap winter sun destination.
Yes, Gambia is still a third-world country and during your stay you’ll no doubt bump into the odd “bumster” — con man — or two. But as a holiday destination The Gambia is safe and has much to offer besides sunshine.
The country has a variety of accommodation from budget backpacker stops to superb five-star hotels with unspoilt beaches.
OK, so the nightlife doesn’t compare to the Canaries and shops, banks and other attractions are a bit thin on the ground to say the least. But when you’re on GMT — that’s Gambian Maybe Time — who cares? The food is great (the ladyfish is to die for) and the locals (who all speak English) are genuinely friendly.
Although most people prefer to spend their days simply relaxing in the sun, there are tons of other things to see and do.
We spent the first three days of our trip at the four-star Kombo Beach Hotel in Kotu — a small up-and-coming area on the coast, ideal for families as well as couples.
Our days were spent mostly lounging by the huge pool or paddling in the sea, drinking the local Jul Brew beer which costs just 50 dalasi — or about £1.20 a bottle.
But for those looking to get out of the hotel complex, The Gambia Experience offers a variety of trips, from exploring the countryside in a 4x4 to cruising down the River Gambia on a traditional pirogue.
One of the most fascinating trips is the Roots tour, named after Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, in which the writer traces his family tree.
The excursion combines a relaxed day’s cruise on the river, with poignant reminders of the slave trade at the fortress on James Island, where hundreds of thousands of captives lay shackled before export.
Banjul’s Albert Market is just a short taxi ride away. There you can hone your haggling skills at the many craft stalls.
And if you want to go further afield, you can even take a boat trip to neighbouring Senegal.
But the highlight of our trip was mixing our beach-front stay with four nights at the luxury Mandina Lodges, set on its own river tributary in the heart of the Makasutu Cultural Forest.
Saved from deforestation by Englishmen James English and Lawrence Williams in 1992, the 1,000-acre conservation area enables visitors to combine the peace and calm of nature with an exclusive eco-hideaway.
The retreat was originally intended as a backpackers’ lodge but now boasts solar-powered accommodation, four poster beds and outdoor showers, while all the staff come from the surrounding villages.
Yet from around £120 a night half-board, Makasutu is not out of most people’s price range.
Tailored towards adults only, there are just eight lodges — four floating on the river anchored by wooden walkways, one stilted and three in the jungle.
You even get your own canoe and guide to explore the surrounding mangroves.
Relaxation is the order of the day — whether it’s taking a dip in the pool (claimed to be the biggest in The Gambia) or walking through the forest to spot birds and the local baboons, who roam quite happily through the trees.
Mozzies and other insects aren’t a big issue here but take plenty of Jungle Formula and remember your malaria tablets, just in case.
Days can be spent exploring the villages and schools, and no trip to Africa would be complete without visiting a traditional witch doctor. At night, you dine under the stars.
They call The Gambia the smiling coast. And it’s not hard to see why.

Gambia Charity Christmas Cards

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A British artist has produced some charity Christmas cards to support The Gambia Children’s Fund which she established to finance Joyce International Nursery School in The Gambia. A pack of ten Christmas cards costs £2.50 and can be ordered from http://www.sharonjervis.co.uk/?page=gallery&section=6

I visited the school last week whilst I was in The Gambia and the welcome I (or more accurately the radio journalist I was with) received was incredible. 250 children plus teachers, parents and villagers welcomed us with singing, dancing and drumming. The work the charity has done is remarkable too. I visited the school about 6 years ago and the transformation is unbelievable: new classrooms, a kitchen and toilets have all been built and a well dug. Money is also provided to give the children a hot lunch each day, pay the teachers’ wages and even put a couple of teachers through training.

The charity holds fundraising events and last week raised £2000 at an event in Leicester but they are always looking for additional support. It is possible to sponsor a child through school for just £25 a year. For more information about the school and The Gambia Children’s Fund visit http://gambianchildrensfund.com

New Jacuzzis, Pool and Beach Bar at Corinthia Atlantic

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Corinthia Atlantic Hotel in Banjul has had a number of improvements this summer. The pool area has been renovated, the swimming pool has been retiled and a central fountain and connecting children's pool added. Two new Jacuzzis are welcome additions and the perfect places to relax before enjoying a drink and snack at the new beach bar. For more details click here.

The Secret Heart of The Gambia awaits Discovery

Tony Dawe - The Times — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia has been a tourist destination for more than four decades, but remains a mystery to the majority of British travellers, despite being an English-speaking country. With temperatures averaging 30C (86F), very little rain, reasonable prices and served by daytime flights lasting six hours, this is a good time to discover it.

Visitors will find an intriguing mix.Termite mounds along the airport road will let them know they are in Africa, sophisticated beach-side hotels smack of luxury destinations, the bars along the Senegambia strip in Kololi have the air of 1970s Mediterranean resorts and the Gambia river itself opens the way to adventure holidays.

The Gambia Experience has been offering holidays to the country for more than 20 years and has some excellent winter deals, ranging from a friendly hotel in Kololi to luxury lodges 45 minutes away on a mangrove-clothed tributary of the river.

A week's B&B from December 9 at Sarges Hotel, which has a pool, costs from £479 with a flight from Gatwick, while half-board for a week in a floating lodge at Mandina Lodges in Makasutu Forest is from £899 with a flight on December 5 and transfers. Each suite is cooled by fans and has a private, but roofless, bathroom. Guests have the use of a large pool and bar and can choose to dine in their lodge or in one of the à la carte alfresco dining areas.

The company also has availability leading up to and over Christmas Day - but with return flights on Boxing Day - at the four-star Kombo Beach Hotel in the resort of Kotu. The hotel sits beside a long, sandy beach fringed by palm trees, has a pool and three restaurants and a lively atmosphere, with entertainment and sports activities for adults and children.

Discounted packages include flights from Gatwick, transfers and taxes, B&B in air-conditioned rooms and a gala dinner on Christmas Eve. Prices are from £799 for a fortnight from December 12, £599 for a week from December 19 and £549 for four nights from December 22.

www.gambia.co.uk - 0845 3302087

Plymouth to Banjul Challenge

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Once again teams of brave (or possibly crazy) drivers will be departing from the UK in some old bangers in the Plymouth-Dakar Rally, now in its 7th year. This year there will be three groups departing for Banjul in December and January with the first group celebrating Christmas in Marrakech, the second group enjoying New Year in Marrakech and the third group, well the third group departs after the festive season but gets to escape the terrible UK weather in January.

The Plymouth-Dakar Challenge was created in 2002 by Julian Nowill, inspired by the Paris-Dakar he wanted to prove people with a limited budget can experience the same adventures as those with plenty of cash. The rally actually finishes in Banjul where the cars are auctioned for charity. Competing cars must cost a maximum of £100 so to be honest it’s a surprise that any complete the 3700 mile journey but they do! This year’s rally is full but there is a mailing list for anyone who wishes to find out more about the 2009/10 challenge.

For more information visit http://www.plymouth-dakar.co.uk/

Winter Wonders 15 fab places for you to soak up the sun in December

Gill Williams - The Sunday Mirror — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Travel Editor GILL WILLIAMS tracks down some affordable winter hotspots for you...

GAMBIA MIDWINTER TEMP 32)c (90)F)

HOT winds from the Sahara keep the Gambia toasty through the darkest days of winter. And prices are credit-crunchworthy this season with the cost of a week’s holiday averaging well below £400. Stay at the two- star Sarge’s Hotel and party in lively Kololi.

HOW MUCH? A week with flights from Bristol, East Midlands or Gatwick on December 12 is £339pp with The Gambia Experience – www.gambia.co.uk or 0845 330 2087.

Can we still afford a winter honeymoon in the sun?

Honeymoon Holiday Clinic - The Observer — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Recession may be looming, but if you are feeling the pinch, there's no need to abandon your holiday plans. Our series shows you how to tailor a trip to your budget, big or small

The brief
Fleur Grenier and Roy Newnham live in Littlehampton, West Sussex.

'We're getting married in early February and are keen for a week in the sun. Our budget is about £1,000 (excluding spending money) but we don't want to go for Cyprus and the Canaries - because Roy has worked there and wants to go somewhere new. I'd love to get to somewhere like the Caribbean, but could we afford it? I'm a pewtersmith and make the majority of my income at Christmas fairs. Will we get a cheaper deal if we wait till the New Year?'

The insiders' tips
Matthew Fisher, Real Holidays
..........They could also consider Gambia, a six-hour flight from the UK, with friendly people, sandy beaches and exotic culture. Late deals from The Gambia Experience include a week's B&B at the Kombo Beach hotel from £469 including flights and transfers.

UK Tourists Spend £120,000 to Build Water Pump and Vegetable Garden

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

During a holiday staying at Mandina Lodges three years ago Brian Harrold and Pamela Morgan committed to help the local community after exploring the area surrounding the Lodges with their guide.

The couple stumbled across a nearby village and decided they wanted to help after being confronted with the basic conditions and lack of clean water. After promising help they returned to the village on a second trip to The Gambia and following consultations with the villages it was decided that a clean water supply and vegetable garden to earn money were most essential.

Since that day the couple have returned to the country numerous times and spent £120,000 of their own savings. The village of Bafaluto now has a clean water supply and the vegetable garden which will pay for the upkeep of the pump. Brian and Pamela have now set up a charity to help other villages PING (People In Need in The Gambia) and aim to raise £1 million.

Read more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/oct/05/ethicalholidays.gambia or visit the charity’s website www.pingcharity.co.uk

Bring me sunshine in the squeeze

Fred Mawer - The Mail on Sunday — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

THE GAMBIA

This tiny West African country offers exotic but cheap winter-sun holidays.

The Gambia Experience (0845 330 2060, www.gambia.co.uk), the main specialist tour operator to the country, is offering a week's B&B package for as little as £289 if you're willing to take the risk of being 'allocated on arrival' in simple accommodation, or £450 in a four-star hotel if you want somewhere more comfy.

Other Gambia plusses are no time difference from the UK (so no jet lag), uncrowded beaches, and spectacular birdlife and fishing. On the downside, you'll need to take malaria tablets.

Weather: Max 31C (88F) November-January, when there is virtually no rain.

Flying time: Six hours.

Double delight

Diarmuid Macdonagh - Dorset Echo — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

THINK African holidays and the usual suspects leap to mind – safaris, the cities and beaches of Morocco and Tunisia, cruises on the Nile and the ancient wonders of Egypt.

Gambia has become popular in recent years, although its neighbour Senegal will barely register on most holidaymakers’ lists of prospective destinations.

But Senegal has been luring European visitors for decades and now it is the turn of the British to explore this fascinating country of the west coast of the dark continent.

Serenity Holidays has just launched its first-ever dedicated Senegal Experience brochure.

Serenity can tailor the holiday to your requirements, allowing you to spend some time in the Gambia and Senegal. The two countries have much in common, but the former was a British colony, while the influence of the French is evident everywhere in Senegal.

After spending a night in the luxurious Ngala Lodge in Gambia, I was up early for the trip to Senegal – and the journey itself was breathtaking.

Clambering into a 4x4 we headed for the ferry across the Gambia River. The bustling crowds vied for space with army trucks and heavily laden lorries, cars and livestock, but the passage was smooth enough.

The same could not be said of the roads as we headed for the border and beyond. We spent more time off-road as much of the “highway” had been washed away and a huge EU-funded re-building programme was under way.

But there was something wonderfully liberating about the journey as we swept along, alternating between road and salt plain, scrubland and road again as the sun beat down.

We headed north for a heady six hours until we reached the spectacular Le Royal Lodge, which sits alone on a beautiful beach on the northern fringes of the Sine Saloum Delta, exuding luxury, with 28 suites with top-class fittings and exquisite detailing.

With the focus on quality, relaxation and tranquillity, the Royal Lodge does not go in for loud entertainment but can arrange excursions into the surrounding areas, fishing or birdwatching trips.

It is a state-of-the-art beach resort with an infinity pool, swim-up bar and stunning beachfront location – but it would be criminal to travel all this way just to lounge by the pool. The scenery is breathtaking and ever changing, and the area is rich in wildlife.

Close by is another hotel in a spectacular setting. Lodge des Collines, built by a French couple, is an eco-friendly lodge nestled on a tributary of the Saloum. It offers a series of stunning rooms, from tree-houses built into the baobabs and low huts on stilts over the river to adobe-like bungalows carved into the small hill on which the lodge is situated.

Joal-Fadiout is a village at the southern end of the Petite Côte of Senegal. Joal lies on the mainland, and is well worth visiting for the incredible expanse of fish smokeries and busy harbour. Fadiout, linked by a bridge, lies on an island of clam shells, and is universally known as Shell Island. It is also the birthplace of the first president of Senegal.

The island has a mixed Christian and Muslim population, with cemeteries side by side on an adjoining island.

You can also visit the animal reserve at Bandia, where you can see a wide variety of typical African savannah animals including giraffes, white rhinos, waterbucks, forest buffalos, wart hogs, crocodiles and several species of monkey.

We headed back south again towards the border to spend a few days in the heart of the Sine Saloum Delta. This is a vast 180,000-hectare area that encompasses a national park.

Formed where two rivers converge, it’s a region of great diversity consisting of a unique estuarine environment, glorious beaches, mangrove swamps and sand islands.

The Keur Saloum Hotel is perfectly placed on the banks of the river with mangroves stretching into the distance. Set among the well-kept grounds are 48 African-style round bungalows with air-conditioning and en-suite facilities. A recent addition has been six luxurious new suites in a fantastic location overlooking the jetty and the river.

The hotel also has its own pool and tennis court. It has been attracting anglers and birdwatchers for many years, but even if you’re not tempted to try either pursuit, a trip aboard a traditional pirogue is a must.

I headed off with the hotel’s boatmen to explore the mangroves and stopped at a riverside village that has probably changed little over many generations.

Toubakouta lies on the hotel’s doorstep and offers some pleasant places to eat, but the hotel itself has a great open-plan bar and restaurant serving great fresh food.

Again, although the hotel has a great deal to offer, a holiday here is all about getting out and exploring the area and meeting the people.

The region is magical, and quite unlike anything you will have experienced before.

If you want a more traditional beach resort holiday Senegal Experience is expanding its repertoire this year and the area around Saly, around 40 miles north of the delta, is well established, having attracted French and Belgian holidaymakers for many years.

But it was time for me to head south again and back to the Gambia for the last few days of my two-country experience.

I returned to the sumptuous surroundings of Ngala Lodge, a hotel that really is the archetypal oasis of calm amid the hustle and bustle of this part of the country.

The emphasis here is very much on individual service, and the restaurant is renowned as one of the best in the country.

The main building of Ngala Lodge was originally a colonial mansion and the grandeur of the area is still very much in evidence.

Ngala enjoys a magnificent setting looking out from its cliff-top position across the swimming pool and gardens to the ocean beyond.

The area boasts some top-class restaurants, great beach bars and the lively Senegambia Strip offers some good bars and a few clubs.

Factfile

Senegal Experience offers seven nights at Keur Saloum from £832 per person, based on two sharing a room, half-board, including return flights (Gatwick-Banjul), transfers and all taxes and fuel surcharges. The company also offers seven nights at Le Royal Lodge from £1,158 per person, based on two sharing a suite, half-board, including return flights (Gatwick-Dakar), transfers and all taxes and fuel surcharges. Call Senegal Experience on 0845 338 8706 or visit senegal.co.uk
Gambia Experience/Senegal Experience offers a twin-centre holiday incorporating three nights at Ngala Lodge and four nights at Keur Saloum from £2,032 per person, including flights. Also seven nights at Ngala Lodge from £839 per person, based on two sharing a suite, including breakfast, return flights (Gatwick–Banjul), transfers and all taxes.
Call Gambia Experience on 0845 330 2087 or visit gambia.co.uk

Seeing is Believing

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Standard Chartered Bank is donating US$20 million to fund the development of sustainable eye care in 20 cities internationally including The Gambia in an attempt to help prevent avoidable blindness.

The “Seeing is Believing” project began in 2003; it helps residents of cities in developing countries by offering a range of services targeting avoidable blindness such as preventative treatment, cataract surgery, education and providing glasses to individuals.

The Bank is working with the International Association for the Prevention of Blindness and the World Health Organisation and has highlighted The Gambia as one area in need of real help. Standard Chartered Gambia will be holding a fundraising football match against the GFA Coaches of The Gambia with proceeds allocated to fund a number of cataract operations. The Bank commits to match donations raised until the $20 million target is met, the programme is due to complete in 2015. For more details see http://www.seeingisbelieving.org.uk/newvision/anewvision.asp

President Jammeh Performs Umrah

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President Yahya Jammeh arrived back in Banjul on Sunday after completing a five-day religious journey to the Holy Land of Mecca to perform this year’s Umrah.

President Jammeh was accompanied on the trip by the First Lady, Madam Zeinab Yahya Jammeh, their two children and religious leaders. The trip was a personal pilgrimage not an official engagement although Dr Jammeh did meet with the Governor of Jeddah, the Gambian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of Gambians living in the Kingdom.

Umrah is not compulsory for Muslims as the Hajj is; it is sometimes called the “minor pilgrimage” or “lesser pilgrimage” and is highly recommended for able Muslims to complete. Pilgrims must complete a series of rituals symbolising the life of the prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and his wife Hagar (Hajarah) including the tawaf (circling the Kaaba seven times in an anti-clockwise direction); a sa’i (walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marway); and a halq or taqsir (cutting of hair).

AITO adopts new green travel ratings

Oliver Smith - Telegraph.co.uk — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

UK organisation has revised its Responsible Tourism ratings in an effort to encourage eco-friendly travel.

The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) has revised its Responsible Tourism Star classification system.

AITO, which encourages a commitment to green travel among its members, has altered the number of points awarded to certain areas such as destination activities and carbon reduction.

Previously, its ratings system ranged from one to three stars. The revamped questionnaire will rate eco-friendly travel operators from one to five stars.

"We hope that through the increased emphasis on destination activities, members will be encouraged to work more closely with local communities," said Roger Diski, founder of Rainbow Tours and the Chairman of AITO's Responsible Tourism committee.

An AITO spokesman said that the new classifications would push a number of tours operators down from the top rating, which he hoped would encourage them to continue improving their green credentials.

A spokeswoman for charity Tourism Concern, which campaigns against irresponsible tourism, said that the changes were "much-needed" and encouraging, but called for greater transparency.

"We would like to see the results," she added. "Corporate checklists are rarely sufficient – they need to be robustly policed by third parties."

"Unless the actual impact is verified, customers really have no idea what they are buying into."

Travel companies must now re-apply for AITO membership to receive their new rating.

So far seven operators have been awarded the new five star rating: Corsican Places, Explore, Himalayan Kingdoms, Journey Latin America, KE Adventure Travel, Serenity Holidays and Tribes Travel.

Companies must achieve a minimum of one star to gain AITO membership.

President Hands Out 17,000 Bags of Sugar and Calls For Reduced Meat Costs

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

President Jammeh has distributed 17,000 bags of sugar in his annual gift to the nation during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. During his speech at State House, the Gambian President also called upon butchers to reduce the cost of meat as part of his aim to ensure all Gambians have access to reasonably priced food.

It is claimed that the current prices for a kilo of meat: 80 dalasis for steak and 60 dalasis for meat and bones, are too high as livestock prices are much more reasonable. Many fear that if the order is enforced many of the non-Gambian butchers may simply leave the country, leaving a skill and food shortage, but Dr Jammeh claimed plans have already been put in place to ensure an abundance of meat in the markets.

He also used the opportunity to urge Gambians to take up jobs currently dominated by foreigners, such as that of butchers, within the fisheries projects at Gunjar and Tanji, and at Albert Market.

XL Leisure Group

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia Experience would like to extend its sympathies to holidaymakers who were booked to travel with XL Leisure Group, which announced that it would cease trading as of today (12 September). XL going into administration does not affect clients travelling with The Gambia Experience, nor any of its sister companies, which are all part of Serenity Holidays Limited.

Serenity Holidays Limited has been in business for 21 years and The Gambia Experience is the largest tour operator to The Gambia. It is ATOL protected (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence Number, 1866) - an accreditation administered by the Civil Aviation Authority, which gives clients security and reassurance when booking a package holiday.

Chris Ayling, Serenity Holidays director said:

“Serenity Holidays is an experienced tour operator that is fully bonded to ensure peace of mind when booking a package holiday. My message to the public would be that if you do choose to book your flights, accommodation and transfers separately, then check now to ascertain if you are covered financially.”

Serenity Holidays Ltd is also a member of AITO, The Association of Independent Tour Operators and ABTA, The Association of British Travel Agents. Both maintain strict guidelines for membership.

As well as The Gambia Experience, Serenity Holidays Ltd also owns The Senegal Experience, The Cape Verde Experience, Turkish Places, Corsican Places, Sardinian Places and Great Escapes. For more on The Gambia Experience please call The Gambia Experience Reservations on 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk

For AITO’s Quality Charter, please visit:
http://www.aito.co.uk/corporate_QualityCharter.asp

For more on ABTA’s Code of Conduct, please visit:
http://www.abta.com/about/industry_standards

Ends

AITO Comment on XL Leisure Group

Association of Independent Tour Operators - — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

ANOTHER FINE MESS YOU’VE GOT US INTO, HMG...
Government-created two-tier travel industry causes chaos for consumer in the wake of XL’s collapse

XL Holidays, Britain’s third-largest tour operator, last night went into administration, grounding 21 planes and causing chaos for 85,000 people who are currently on holiday in addition to the 200,000 who were due to travel on its flights or via its collection of disparately-named holiday companies (Kosmar, Freedom Holidays, The Really Great Holiday Company, etc., etc.).

Says Derek Moore, Chairman of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO): “We have long warned of the likely implications of the Government allowing a two-tier industry to exist, and here we have a prime example of what happens when things go wrong. Consumers who booked holidays through ATOL-protected tour operators, e.g. with AITO members, will be helped by their tour operator to find new flights – not easy when 21 planes each carrying 170 people on several flights a day have been removed from the flight market overnight. Additionally, the tour operator will cover all extra costs involved, which can be considerable.

“Consumers who booked holidays independently, e.g. direct with the airline and direct with their accommodation provider, will have to sort themselves out. If they can’t find new flights, or if the flights they can find are too expensive for them, they will still be obliged to pay for their accommodation - even if they can’t reach it. Unprotected consumers lose out both in terms of potentially losing their holiday and in terms of it costing them a lot more than they had budgeted.

“It’s a ghastly mess all-round, and needn’t have been so had the Government followed the travel industry’s recommendations - including those of its own select committee on transport - to insist that airlines were also brought within the remit of the ATOL regulations. That would have meant fair play all round, for consumers and for holiday companies.”

How can consumers ensure they don’t fall into the crack if an airline collapses?
1. Book with a fully-bonded tour operator, e.g. AITO member (www.aito.co.uk). This is the safest and least-hassle route, as it’s the tour operator’s responsibility to ensure you get your holiday and to absorb any and all costs incurred in rebooking flights, amending accommodation arrangements if necessary, etc.
2. Pay by credit card and the credit card company will refund the money lost – but it won’t cover any higher costs incurred re-booking flights late in the day. NB debit cards do not offer this cover or get you home if you are stranded abroad.
3. Buy airline failure insurance – but, again, be aware that - unless stated to the contrary in the policy - it won’t cover any higher costs incurred due to last-minute re-booking of flights. When airlines get into difficulty, airline failure insurance is sometimes withdrawn by the insurers.
To summarise, Derek Moore of AITO says: “In the current troubled financial climate, play it safe and book your trip away, whether short break or longer holiday, via a fully-bonded tour operator. You won’t lose flexibility – but you will lose the worry that your holiday might disappear or end up paying a lot more for it.”

Moore confirms that AITO will again be lobbying Government to bring the airlines within the ATOL remit to avoid repetition of this problem. “Two airlines – Zoom and XL – going bust in the space of two weeks ought, we think, be enough to make the Government reconsider the situation. Airlines can’t continue to claim that they are impervious to potential collapse with fuel prices being so high and with exchange rates so volatile.”

Ends
12th September, 2008

Note for Editors:
1. ATOL is the CAA’s Air Travel Organisers’ Licence. All tour operators selling flight-inclusive holidays are required to gain an ATOL licence, which means that the CAA monitors their finances closely and that the CAA will repatriate and refund their customers if a company fails.
2. Airlines are currently outside the ATOL system, although they sell holidays in exactly the same way that tour operators do (e.g. via XL.com in the XL situation).
3. This two-tier system means that some people on XL’s flights and holidays are protected while some are not – and it’s doubtful that the consumers concerned were aware of this differential when they booked their holiday or flight.
4. All 140 members of AITO (www.aito.co.uk) are fully bonded for the financial protection of their customers.
5. Many AITO members are currently working hard to re-protect their clients’ flights and holidays as a result of the collapse of XL the airline. All additional costs incurred will be absorbed by the tour operator and not passed on to customers.
6. If consumers booked a “dynamically packaged” holiday via a travel agent, they will need to check with their agent to find out if they are financially protected or not.

Gambia 2nd in Table Following 3-0 Win Against Liberia

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambian football team has beaten Liberia 3-0 in their latest World Cup Qualifier, sending their opponents out of the tournament. The win sees Gambia take second place in the group 6 standings, just one point behind Algeria.

The Gambian national side, nicknamed “The Scorpions” took an early lead against Liberia’s “Lone Star” with Njogu Demba taking the lead after just ten minutes. Ousman Jallow scored the team’s second goal, making the half-time score 2-0 to the home team. After the break Liberia came out stronger but failed to score. When Demba scored his second goal in the 76th minute there was no return for the visitors.

Gambia’s next match is on the 11th October against neighbours Senegal.

Join Chris Packham in The Gambia

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Chris Packham is leading a small group of privileged birdwatchers on a tour of The Gambia and Senegal with specialist tour operator The Gambia Experience and there are still limited spaces available.

For the third consecutive year, TV presenter and photographer Chris Packham will spend a week in the coastal resorts of The Gambia and Senegal as well as an upriver camp, Badi Mayo ( “Chimpanzee Island” ), escorting a group of holidaymakers. During the trip Chris will be using his extensive knowledge of the area and its wildlife, and with a maximum of just twelve participants, there will be plenty of opportunity to get to know the TV presenter and share in his expertise.

Chris has travelled to The Gambia on numerous occasions and says of the country: “It’s a haven for birding, it’s so full of accessible sites and species and it still retains its charm and allure for me after many visits.”

The bird watching tour will run between 13th and 16th February 2009 and costs £350 which can be added to the cost of a holiday at any hotel in the Kotu region. The tour includes welcome drinks with Chris, a trip to the Abuko Nature Reserve, a guided walk of Kotu Stream, and a 2 day birding trip on board a catamaran in the Sine Saloum Delta, Senegal. A 7-night package including flights and bed and breakfast hotel accommodation starts from £688* per person staying at 2+ grade Bakotu Hotel, Chris’ preferred choice. *Departing from Gatwick on Tuesday 10th February.

A two-night extension at a camp five hours upriver at Chimpanzee Island is available between 17th & 19th February, an area described by Chris as “breathtakingly beautiful”. The Chimpanzee Island tour costs £495 per person on top of a flight and coastal hotel package; this includes transport upriver, 2 nights’ twin tented accommodation, full board and a boat trip to view the chimps. A maximum of eight can be accommodated on this part of the trip, providing even greater opportunity to learn from Chris’ lifelong passion for wildlife.

The Gambia Experience offers flights from Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol and East Midlands on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the winter. A Tuesday flight from Glasgow is also available. For more information visit www.gambia.co.uk or telephone 0845 330 2087 to order a copy of the 2008/09 brochure featuring the widest range of holidays to The Gambia.

The Gambia Celebrates The Start of Ramadan

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tuesday saw the start of a month of fasting for the majority of Gambians as Muslims across the world celebrate one of the most important festivals of the Islamic faith, Ramadan.

All healthy Muslims, excluding young children and pregnant women, are required to fast during daylight hours and must also refrain from all other sinful acts and anything that can cause a distraction from concentrating on Allah. It is a time for caring and sharing, for considering others and contemplating one’s faith.

Students to Benefit From New Bus Service

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Gambian students and school children will hopefully be some of the main beneficiaries of the new Unique Transport Service System (UTSCO) launched last month by President Jammeh. The fleet of 31 buses will serve the busiest urban routes in The Gambia as well as some more rural areas, with the aim of making transport more accessible and affordable to all.

Buses from the depot at MSA in Kotu operate routes along the trans-Gambia highway to Kalaji in Foni; from West Field to Tabokoto; between Banjul and West Field; Brikama and the AU Junction; and on the northern bank between Barra and Amdalai, Farafennis and Wassu.

Students in uniform pay 5 dalasis to travel to school, regardless of distance, and for D180 a month bus pass can be purchased which entitles students to unlimited travel.

Luxury Collection September travel offers

Press Office - The Gambia Experience — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The Gambia Experience is offering discounts this September on selected holidays featuring hotels within its Luxury Collection portfolio.

September offers apply to three of The Gambia Experience’s deluxe hotels: Ngala Lodge, Coconut Residence, (both exclusive to the tour operator), and The Sheraton Gambia Hotel.

Luxury Collection boutique hotel: Ngala Lodge – 7 nights from £499pp (save up to £245pp)
Situated just outside Bakau, Ngala Lodge was originally a colonial mansion and now houses 18 suites in total, including the upgraded Manor and Atlantic Suites (Atlantic Suite extras include a private jacuzzi), as well as the two-storey Penthouse with private rooftop terrace.
Courtesy of an elevated cliff-top position, the property offers outstanding views. Facilities include private tropical gardens, a swimming pool, access to a secluded beach and the acclaimed Ngala Lodge Restaurant.
Valid for September departures, a 7-night holiday at Ngala Lodge with The Gambia Experience starts from £499 per person (resulting in a saving of up to £245 per person on Friday departures). This price is based on 2 sharing a standard suite with breakfast, and includes return flights from London Gatwick, in-flight meals, transfers and all taxes (including fuel surcharge). Throughout September, the above holiday can be extended to a 14-night duration for an additional £99 per person, with prices starting from £598 per person (resulting in a saving of up to £339 per person on Friday departures).

Luxury Collection boutique hotel: Coconut Residence – Free upgrade from a Junior to Deluxe Suite
Designed to recreate an era of colonial opulence, the deluxe Coconut Residence, although located just one kilometre from the lively resort area of Kololi, is an oasis of calm. The accommodation is arranged in suites, which vary in size and location from the Junior Suite up to the private three-bedroom villa with private pool. The vast Lion Suite has been renamed The Royal Suite in recognition of the King of Morocco’s recent visit.
Facilities at this boutique hotel include two swimming pools, exotic gardens with sun terraces, boats for hire and the acclaimed à la carte Avocado Restaurant (undoubtedly the premier restaurant in The Gambia).
This September a 7-night holiday at Coconut Residence with accommodation in a Deluxe Suite starts from £799 per person (resulting in a saving of £129 per person, courtesy of a free upgrade from a Junior to a Deluxe Suite – a free upgrade which runs throughout September). This price is valid for 09 September departures and includes breakfast, return flights from London Gatwick, in-flight meals, transfers and all taxes (including fuel surcharge).
Throughout September ‘no single supplement’ also applies.

International Luxury Collection hotel: The Sheraton Gambia Hotel – 7 nights from £734pp (save up to £75pp)
For those who prefer a larger hotel, The 5* Sheraton Gambia Hotel located along the southern coastline of The Gambia at Brufut, a small village ten minutes south of Kololi, would be ideal.
Located just ten minutes from Banjul airport and positioned directly on the beach, surrounded by palm and baobab trees, The Sheraton Gambia Hotel fulfils the high standard expected from the international Sheraton hotel chain. Blending west and south African architecture, each room or suite offers unspoilt sea views.
Facilities include a large infinity swimming pool, fitness centre, and choice of restaurants offering Asian, Mediterranean and seafood cuisine.
Activities can also be arranged, including Kiting, Fishing, Boat Rides and Watersports, as well as private excursions.
Valid for September departures, a 7-night holiday at The Sheraton Gambia Hotel with The Gambia Experience starts from £734 per person (resulting in a saving of £75 per person). This price is based on 2 sharing a Twin Classic room with breakfast, and includes return flights from London Gatwick, in-flight meals, transfers and all taxes (including fuel surcharge).
Throughout September, the above holiday can be extended to a 14-night duration, with prices starting from £983 per person (resulting in a saving of £125 per person).

For more information on any of the above offers or to request a brochure, please contact The Gambia Experience Reservations on 0845 330 2087 or visit www.gambia.co.uk

An adventurous tour on Africa's wilder side

Tony Dawe - The Times — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This must be as good an adventure as you can get on a package holiday - and its starts in that benign destination, The Gambia. After a night in the comfort of the Coconut Residence, with two pools and an acclaimed restaurant, the excitement begins with a short drive to Banjul port to catch the ferry across the Gambia River.

Those in the know and with a few dalasis in the hand will be allowed through the port gates to reach the quayside. When they and their vehicles are aboard, the gates open and hundreds of locals rush for the ancient vessel - women with children on their backs and sacks of flour on their heads; men pulling trolleys and carrying suitcases; peanut vendors and iced-drink sellers.

The overcrowded ferry takes 50 minutes to reach Barra and from there the border with Senegal is a 20-minute drive. A new road is being built with EU funds to replace the current sand-blown track.

Into Senegal, the road is less dusty, but so potholed that drivers head off on to tracks across the plain, only returning to the highway when a stream has to be crossed. The villages along the way are a mixture of straw huts and stone houses with corrugated iron roofs. Cattle, goats, donkeys and the odd boar roam in and out of the houses and the traffic.

The four-hour journey on this Gambia Experience trip to the Sine Saloum Delta is broken with a stop for a snack and a drink in a café in Kaolack, an oasis of calm in a chaotic town at the centre of the salt industry.

The spirit of adventure is still present on reaching Les Collines de Niassam, an eco-lodge a mile from the Atlantic. Guests have the choice of walking out along a pontoon to one of four thatched huts on stilts in the lagoon or climbing into a house in a baobab tree. The less nimble can settle for a simple bungalow.

The excursions on offer are just as exciting or nerve-racking as the journey to the delta: a microlight ride, canoeing in the mangrove, trekking, a trip in a local fishing boat.

I settled for an evening ride in a primitive horse-drawn cart in search of hyenas and a morning sail up the lagoon in a rickety pirogue, excellently piloted by Ousman, who had restored the traditional craft and is creating a museum in the neighbouring village.

The eco-lodge is charming, but has one disadvantage: although all the accommodation has a shower, sink and toilet, the water is cold. If you insist on hot water, a waiter will bring a bucket from the kitchen to your room.

So it is a pleasure to decamp a mile to the Royal Lodge and luxuriate in a vast spa bath in a bright and airy bathroom. This is a remarkable hotel, a fully-fledged resort amid the bougainvillea and baobab trees on the edge of Africa. It has most things you would expect in a western resort: a large infinity pool with a spa bath at the centre, a sandy beach, an accomplished and airy restaurant, a beauty salon, laundry and 24-hour a day service.

The Gambia Experience offers a week's holiday combining The Gambia and the Sine Saloum Delta region of Senegal from £1,049. This price is based on a flight from Gatwick to Banjul, transfer to Coconut Residence for half-board for a night, travel to the delta for three nights' half-board at Les Collines, two nights' half-board at the Royal Lodge and return to Banjul for a final night's half-board at Coconut Residence.

From November, The Gambia Experience will be offering holidays direct to Senegal with flights to Dakar, the capital, thus cutting out the ferry trip and reducing the journey time to the delta to three hours.

For those happy to settle for the sunshine in The Gambia, the company offers a range of holidays, with prices for a week's B&B at the four-star Kombo Beach Hotel in Kotu starting from £399 this month, including return flights from Gatwick and transfers.

www.gambia.co.uk 0845 3302087

Gambia: A plunge into history

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:44:00 GMT

The small Western African country has seen on its territory more tribes and civilisations than many others, making it the perfect destination for a clear insight into the history of Africa and its interactions with the first European settlers.

The first signs of civilisation found in the Gambia area date back to around 5,500 years ago and fragments of pottery from that area have since been collected by the Gambia National Museum.

The museum is located in capital Banjul and gives access to major testaments of the Smiling Coast's history to visitors from all over the world.

The ethnography section focuses on traditions and artefacts from tribes of the Gambia, including the Mandinka, Fula and Wolof tribes, while the archaeology section analyses the evolution of humankind from the Palaeolithic period to post-Independent Gambia after 1965.

The museum is open every day from 9am to 6pm except from Friday to Sunday when the doors shut at 5pm.

First opened in 1985, the Gambia National Museum is a true testimony of the Gambia's past along the Gambia River which drew the attention of the Portuguese from the 15th century, followed by the French and the English, all looking for a strategic base for their slave trade.

Quad biking through Gambia's wilderness

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:00:00 GMT

The ever popular road adventure activity has become a must in many parts of the world, especially in countries where the landscapes have remained unspoilt, therefore offering bikers a dream adventure through real wilderness.

Off-road quad biking in the Gambia can be organised throughout the country for anything from one-hour trek to full two-day treks with camping in the bush for those looking for the true experience.

UK-based quad biking centre Monnow Events organises quad trips throughout the Herefordshire countryside, as well as trips along unspoilt beaches and through the African Bush in the Western African country.

Quad biking is a fun activity for the whole family, including children, and visitors to the Gambia interested in outdoor sports are advised to subscribe for a travel insurance covering such activities.

Helmets are not required but strongly recommended, along with gloves, boots and protective clothing as quad bikes can reach up to 65 mph.

Futsal players invade the Gambia

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:12:18 GMT

Luis Figo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have all learned their unique football techniques from it. The game is called Futsal, and it has recently made an entry into Africa, promising good results for the Gambian football teams.

Six British instructors are indeed currently leading a two-day training course for football coaches in the Gambia at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.

The course is exclusively centred on Futsal, a 12-player game involving a smaller and heavier version of 11 a-side ball, as well as hockey sized goals.

The sport is supported by FIFA and UEFA who organise World and European Championships for clubs and National Teams, and is yet to become part of the Gambia's football association.

Instructor Paul Whatmough told the Observer: "We are training coaches with the basic rules and tactics of the game and we expect them to train other Gambians.

"We've developed a five-year strategic plan to ensure that Gambian coaches are fully trained."

Gambians "go back to the land"

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:00:31 GMT

Gambian President Jammeh has launched a call for all Gambians to "go back to the land" in order for the country to attain food self-sufficiency.

Spain has announced that a borehole and storage facilities will soon be erected in Noo Kunda in the Illiasa Constituency, in the North Bank Region, to help farmers store crops so as to avoid a blockade in the market and therefore a decrease in prices.

As reported by the Daily Observer, the North Bank Region was also recently presented with a pumping machine to help the women of Alkali Kunda in Upper Baddibou increase horticultural activities.

The new machine was donated by Fabakary Tombong Jatta, the majority leader of the National Assembly and member for Serrekunda East.

The news comes only a few days after the Gambia received 100 tons of rice seed from the Taiwanese ambassador to the Gambia, Richard Shih, The Point reported.

Agriculture is Gambia's main industry, employing 75 per cent of the population, compared to 19 per cent for industry and six per cent for services.

However, although Gambia's total arable land accounts for 27.88 per cent of the total land area, only 0.44 per cent of the territory is currently cultivated.

Gambia bridges the gender gap

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:13:29 GMT

Thanks to the support of the Taiwanese government, which has recently presented the sum of US$300,000 to the Gambian government for the President's Empowerment of Girls Education Project (PEGEP), education will become more readily available to female children in the country.

Teneng Jaiteh, the Gambian secretary general and head of the Civil Service, received the donation last Wednesday from Taiwanese ambassador to The Gambia, Mr Richard Shih, and explained that "Taiwan had always shown itself as a true friend and partner of the Gambia".

The PEGEP, which aims at providing free education for girls throughout the country, has received the support of the Taiwanese government on many occasions over the last few years and constitutes a major step towards achieving the 2015 Millennium Development Goals launched by the United Nations.

As part of the two governments' partnership in education, Taiwan also regularly offers Gambian students the opportunity to study engineering in the Asian island.

Agricultural training at the key of the Gambian economy

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:39:36 GMT

Technical training in agriculture has become readily available to Gambian farmers throughout the country, a major step to ensure sustainable food security in the West African country.

The Smiling Coast of Africa has achieved its five-year project in partnership with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College of Toronto in Canada to set up a range of short courses so as to provide useful advice to farmers and therefore secure a stable national agricultural economy.

In a country where 75 per cent of the population work in agriculture, such a project was truly at the core of the entire nation's development, putting an end to food scarcity and dependence on food imports.

Ebrima Cham, head of the School of Agriculture of Gambia, which delivers the courses, told the Daily Observer: "This new curricula seek to provide skilled agricultural extension service providers that are capable of addressing the food security needs of the farming community."

The Sustainable Food Security project was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency.

A backpack full of treasures

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:33:13 GMT

When travellers first started to explore the world, most would never part from their worthy notebooks, full of incredible details from another world.

Nowadays, laptops have often replaced notebooks, as indeed, according to research by InsureandGo, backpackers tend to travel with valuables worth around £1,097 on average, including iPods, cameras and laptops.

As technology hits the road, Tom Hall, travel editor at Lonely Planet, has warned of the importance of travel insurance but also added: "If you can't bear to lose it, then don't take it away with you."

Backpackers spend on average around £3,764 on their trip, including transport, insurance, food, entertainment, clothes and medical expenses, although almost one in ten (8.3 per cent) usually spends more than £10,000, InsureandGo's research has revealed.

Mr Hall has advised travellers to stick to their daily budget and prefer internet banking so as to always be aware of the exact amount of cash available in the bank.

Western Africa is a prime destination for backpackers who do not want to overspend their budget, and Mr Hall said: "get out and explore a little bit further off the beaten track and you'll find that things are a little bit cheaper."

Gambian actors on the Nollywood scene

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:22:37 GMT

The Gambia is awaiting the arrival of Francis Duru, an icon in the Nigerian film industry, next Saturday, who will be shortly after followed by the likes of Aki & Popo, Osufeson and Mama G, who is also known as Patience Uzuoku.

As reported by The Point, the Nollywood stars are to stay in the Gambia for a few days, constituting an excellent opportunity for all Gambian actors and actresses to make contact with the Nollywood world.

Dr. Samuel Wilcox, chief executive officer of Chartered House, has told The Point that he is hoping the exchange will "offer Gambian actors and actresses the opportunity to star in Nollywood because there is currently no Gambian actor in Nollywood".

The chief executive officer of Tradeplus, the company in charge of organising the movie stars' travel to the Gambia, has also explained that this would "enhance the tourism sector".

"The Gambian economy is doing well and the best thing is to supplement and complement efforts in sustaining that economic growth."

Francis Duru's latest movies include Final War, Rhythm of Love and Total War, all released in 2007.

Root Festival is one of the big five in Western Africa

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:21:58 GMT

Western Africa is growing in popularity, attracting more visitors every year who are looking for new experiences and cultures, wildlife and pristine waters.

Professionals of tourism in the region are on a constant mission of promoting tourism in the Western region, and are currently preparing for the fourth edition of the Akwaaba Travel Market (ATM) in Lagos, Nigeria, to take place on October, 24th and 25th.

The event will reunite members of the tourism industry like hotel, car rental and national park managers, to discuss ways of going past the half a million international visitors recorded last year.

The travel expo marketer, Mr Ikechi Uko, has told The Daily Observer that "out of the five international events that have global recognition in West Africa, the International Homecoming Root Festival (Gambia) is one of the best so far".

The other four events being: the Visual Art Dakar-Senegal, Panafest for culture Accra- Ghana, Fespaco for movie in Ouagadougou-Burkina Faso, and the Akwaaba Travel Market Expo for tourism in Lagos-Nigeria.

Mr Uko is in favour of promoting travel to the Western region as a whole, supporting projects like the Ecowas passport which gives travellers the opportunity to move freely within West Africa.

Gambia: Anthem competition

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:09:09 GMT

President Yahya Jammeh is offering a one-million-dalasi reward to the winner of the anthem competition for the July 22nd commemoration.

As reported by the Daily Observer, the sum of around £24,000 will be awarded to the best anthem for the July 22nd revolution which represents one of the major events in the Gambian history.

The winning anthem will also be adopted by Mr. Yahya Jammeh's political party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).

July 22nd marks the beginning of the Second Republic when in 1994 Mr Jammeh organised a military coup to overthrow Jawara's government which had been in power for 30 years.

Mr Jammeh later won the Gambian national elections with 56 per cent of the votes, becoming Gambia's first president under the Second Republic.

For this14th year anniversary of the revolution, other awards will also be distributed, including 500,000 dalasi to the first runner up for the anthem competition, 150,000 dalasi for the best fashion designer for the July 22nd event, as well as smaller prizes for the first and second runners-up.

"Culinary tourism" in Gambia

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:26:44 GMT

More than 50 per cent of Brits have said they consider local food an important part of their holidays abroad.

Research by the World Travel Market has indeed revealed that all visitors, even those on a half-or full-board holiday, are tempted to try local restaurants and eateries in the country they visit.

A spokesperson from the Association of British Travel Agents has explained that Brits' "food experiences have improved in this country and as a result [they] want to taste the best when [they] are on holiday..."

Senegal and Gambia share common cultural and ethnic ties and often offer the same traditional dishes, mainly rice with a choice of stew (fish, chicken, beef, lamb or goat, but no pork as 90 per cent of the population is Muslim), but also seafood such as fried fish, oysters and shrimps.

Among the typical dishes offered on the menu we find: 'domoda', chicken in peanut butter sauce, 'supakanja', a sort of okra (plant) stew with beef, and 'benachin' made with fish and Jolof Rice.

According to the International Culinary Tourism Association, "culinary tourism" is defined as a "pursuit of unique and memorable culinary experiences of all kinds".

Gambian women are into sport

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:38:18 GMT

In a country where football and cricket are equally watched by men and women, it was high time for the first women’s Cricket Academy to open its doors.

The Gambia is growing aware of this need for all the members of its community to get involved into sports, the key to social cohesion and happiness.

The new women’s Cricket Academy, which is run by the Gambia Cricket Association, has started last weekend at the July 22nd Square in capital Banjul, The Point reported.

Johnny Gomez, vice president of the Gambia Cricket Association, said: "if the women cricketers are ready and determined in the game, a female national team will be set up and will be registered into their first international ICC Cricket tournament in December 2008".

Finally, another big event has been organised for female football fans in the country, as indeed Ms. Monika Staab, a FIFA female instructor from Germany, is currently in the country with female trainers from the Gambia Football Association Centre to lead a one-week coaching course, finishing next Friday.

The 25 lucky participants were drawn from female league clubs across the country.

Gambia: Energy supply independence

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:34:03 GMT

The Gambia is to become a major fuel supplier within the sub-region with its new fuel storage facility in Kombo North.

The Gambia has increased its total storage capacity from one month worth of supply for the country when the fuel storage was located in Half-Die in Banjul, to six months, with a depot containing some 51,000 tones of heavy and light fuel oil and gas.

The Gam-Petroleum storage facility is currently the biggest in the sub-region and will secure the country's independence in terms of fuel imports and secure reasonable stable prices within the country despite the current rise in oil prices.

President Yahya Jammeh has told the Daily Observer: "Price stability is a measure of macro-economic well-being and a signal for businesses and investments", thus "creating more employment opportunities for Gambians".

The Gambia is also expecting to become a major refilling station for vessels bound for South America and South Africa.

The storage facility is situated in Mandinary village, Kombo North, Western Region and was estimated at $50 million.

Gambia: one step forward for the NYSS

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:30:20 GMT

Gambia's National Youth Service Scheme has recently launched its website; 12 years after the youth service first started its operations in 1996.

The institution, which aims at "encouraging and developing common ties among youths, promoting national unity; and developing the youth within a dynamic economy", currently offers a wide range of free courses and activities for young people in the country.

With the launching of its new website, which can be browsed on www.nyssgam.org, the NYSS is hoping to make those courses more accessible to all young Gambians, regardless of their location.

Among the courses available, youngsters can apply for training in agriculture, auto mechanics, carpentry, PC repairs and maintenance, plumbing, masonry and hairdressing.

Marchel Mendy, NYSS Public Relations officer, has told the Daily Observer that "nobody can deny the fact that the importance of NYSS is immeasurable".

Brigadier General Yusuf Bomoi, director general of the NYSS's sister institution in Nigeria, the National Youth Service Corps, has praised the NYSS for its recent achievements and promised his constant support.

Accommodation for every budget

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:30:48 GMT

While travelling used to be only accessible to well-off people, it now tends to be available to all, and has indeed grown in popularity over recent years.

With the number of budget airlines constantly increasing and affordable round-the-world tickets on the market, backpackers are now a common sight everywhere around the world.

All these changes have resulted in a boom in the tourism industry of many countries which are now opening a multitude of hostels and guesthouses at affordable prices to cater for this new public.

Gambia has it all, from five-star hotels to the small family-like guesthouse, and being reputedly a friendly country, the Western African destination appeals to many backpackers.

Although, as Paul Fearn, communications manager for YHA, said, many people still imagine hostels as a place where people have to share rooms and chores, "hostels have improved dramatically" and now offer both dormitories and en suites private rooms.

Mr Fearn has also explained that hostels "tend to be much more sociable places. They have more communal places that people actually use", making for good opportunities to share stories and experiences.

Beauty rhymes with PhD

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:07:08 GMT

This year's Miss 22 July Scholarship Pageant has crowned three Gambian beauties who will receive a full scholarship to PhD level as a reward.

As reported by the Daily Observer, a total of thirty candidates were initially selected for the contest which has crowned the finalist of each of the three categories, and has awarded other prizes to the first and second runners-up of each category.

Miss Fatma SM Janneh for the tertiary category, Miss Mariama Camara for the senior secondary school category and Miss Elizabeth Mendy for the upper basic school contest, were all presented with the monarch-like crowns last Saturday morning at the Paradise Suites Hotel at the Kololi Beach Club.

Along with the beauty contest, the candidates had to answer a list of questions on various topics such as the July 22 Revolution, education and government to test their knowledge as well as their beauty.

The event quickly turned into an outstanding fashion show, revealing some of the Gambia's best dresses and traditional outfits, as well as a real cultural experience, highlighted by the performance of several famous Gambian artistes such as Sambou Suso, Freaky Joe and Mbye Gaye.